Welcome Officer Erickson
by Trinity Gruenberg
Verndale has a new officer patrolling the town. Garrett Erickson, 20, of Menahga is happy to be of service to the community.
Erickson is the son of Verndale Elementary Teacher Angie Erickson, and local State Patrol Officer Nate Erickson. He is the oldest of his four other siblings, three brothers and a sister.
His parents were supportive of his decision to follow in his father’s footsteps. His siblings were also happy for him.
“They’re [his siblings] at the stage that they think I just drive a car with cool lights on it,” smiled Garrett.
The 2019 Menahga grad got a jump start on his college education. He went post-secondary to MState in Wadena his junior year and finished with an AA degree by the time he graduated high school.
He had originally thought of becoming a nurse and changed his course and attained his law enforcement degree in Brainerd.
It was no simple feat to attend college during the height of the pandemic. Some classes were online, but practicals (a course in practical situations) were still held in person. . .