Recognizing law enforcement on Arik Matson Day

The Waseca community is rallying together and raising money.

Kimt news 3 continues to follow the progress of arik matson.

He's a southern minnesota police officer who was shot in the line of duty.

After getting gravely injured... he is now on his way to recovery.

To recognize his service á state and community leaders are declaring today "arik matson day" in honor of his badge number... 2á22.

There's another man from waseca who was also injured in the line of duty... deputy josh langr (langá ur).

Kimt news 3's isabella basco caught up with deputy langr and matson's colleagues at a fundraiser in waseca.xxx isabella: arik matson day is the perfect time to reflect on all the contributions and sacrifices that people in law enforcement make.

And that makes it only befitting that people raise money for both the matsons and the langrs.

"easy to like.

Always a smile on his face, you give him a call, he goes to the call."

"very much one of the good guys.

Always smiling, laughing, joking."

Ask any of officer matson's colleagues... they'll tell you nothing but beaming things about the brave waseca police officer.

His kind spirit is why hearing the news about the shooting hit so hard.

"anger, especially for someone who was there when he got shot for the rescue portion of it, not knowing what we were running into and knowing how bad it looked and how amazing he's doing now."

Now the waseca community is rallying together and raising money by selling designs that honor law enforcement.

It's what they do á take care of each other.

"pulling together, talking to each other, leaning on each other when we need it.

We all have good days, we have bad days, really relying on our work family."

Deputy josh langr knows firstáhand the difficulties of working in law enforcement.

After responding to a car accident... a power line fell on him and electrocuted him.

"when it happens to you, you wake up in the hospital and it's like.

What?

What happened?"

Deputy langr and officer matson... both resilient á both strong á and both dedicated first responders... unable to deny the fact that they were meant to wear a badge.

"my wife can attest to this: i'm too stubborn not to.

I'll be going back as soon as i get a clean bill of health.

Arik, i know if he can he will because it's a calling."

In waseca ib kimt news 3./// proceeds from today's fundraiser go to both the matson and langr families.

Deputy langr tells kimt news 3 he is on the schedule to start working in may.

As for officer matson... his caringbridge site says he's making amazing progress and has been cracking