Jared Matson

THE ARIK MATSON STORY—ONLINE NOW SHOT IN THE LINE OF DUTY—NO CALL IS ROUTINE We have spent the past several weeks working on the Arik Matson Story—interviewing officers and family members and reviewing more than 1,000 documents from the case file. Waseca Police Officer Arik Matson’s story began on a quiet Monday night in January 2020 in Waseca, Minnesota, with the kind of suspicious-person call officers respond to hundreds of times throughout their careers. Within moments, a gunfight erupted. The gunman was shot, and Officer Matson was shot in the head—forever changing the lives of Arik, his family, his fellow officers and the entire community. In this special survivor story, Arik, the three officers who were with him that night, his mother and his brother help tell the story of the shooting, his fight to survive and the long road through recovery. It is also a story about fatherhood, resilience and Arik’s determination to remain present in the lives of his two daughters. Arik has no memory of that night—which, honestly, may be a blessing. With the help of the three officers who were there, this episode walks listeners step by step through the incident in remarkable detail, including actual radio traffic, 911 calls and more. Then, Arik, his fellow officers and his family share a glimpse into his recovery journey and where he is today. Arik’s Survivor Page is also online, featuring photographs and videos from throughout his life, law-enforcement career, recovery and continued journey: officerdownmemorialpodcast.c… Please take a few minutes to visit Arik’s Survivor Page, listen to his story and learn about his incredible fight to survive and recover after being shot in the head. If you listen through Apple Podcasts, please consider rating and reviewing the podcast. Doing so helps us share these important stories with more listeners and supporters. We also want to recognize Law Enforcement Labor Services, Inc. for the assistance it provided to the Matson family during this difficult time and for sponsoring these important stories of Minnesota heroes. Although Arik’s law-enforcement service has ended, our duty to remember his service and sacrifice has not. Thank you for listening and for helping us honor the service, sacrifice and survival of those who protect our communities. WARNING: This episode contains violent content and strong language that may be disturbing to some listeners. Listener discretion is advised. See less