David Miller is a charter member of Northwest Minnesota FOP Lodge #8. He has been a member for 23 years.  Serving the local lodge as Trustee, Secretary, Treasurer, President, and Gaming Manager.  He has served the State Lodge as 2nd Vice President, Vice President, National Trustee and Secretary.  David was elected President of the State Lodge in April of 2023. David worked for the Moorhead Police Department as a Patrol Officer and Juvenile Investigator for 30 years.  After retirement, he has worked for the US Marshal Service as a District Security Officer for the past 11 years.

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Austin Ohren has been an active member of the Glacial Lakes Lodge #23 since 2016, shortly after he began his law enforcement career.  During that time, he served terms as President, Secretary, and State Trustee. He was elected to the State Board as Vice President in 2023. Austin started his career with the Starbuck Police Department in 2015 and is currently employed by the Anoka Police Department.  Austin has served as a School Resource Officer, Patrol Officer, and Community Oriented Policing Officer.

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Bryan Klassen is a 2007, charter member of Glacial Lakes Lodge 23.  He has been on Glacial Lakes Lodge 23’s board since inception; serving terms as Present, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, Sergeant-At-Arms, and State Trustee.  He is a twenty-one-year veteran of law enforcement and currently employed by the Pope County Sheriff’s Office. During his tenure as a peace officer, he has worn many different “hats”, investigating all types of cases.  He has worked as a school resource officer, been on the swat entry team, was a K9 handler, and worked as a liaison to a drug task force. Currently, he is a road Deputy and assigned as a negotiator for our the West Central Swat Team, Taser instructor and a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) and sex trafficking taskforce.

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Ryan Franz has been a member of Lakes Area Lodge 11 since 2016. During that time, he has served as Sergeant at Arms, State Trustee, and most recently as Lodge President since 2020. Ryan was elected as 3rd Vice President of the State Lodge in 2023. Ryan started his career as an EMT and then Paramedic with CRMC Ambulance in 2002. Ryan started his law enforcement career with Deerwood Police Department. Ryan is currently employed by the Pequot Lakes Police Department as a Sergeant. Ryan was previously assigned as a patrol officer and a School Resource Officer. 

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Chris Mathisen was a member of Lake Minnetonka Lodge 6 for 25 years.  During that time he served as President, Vice President, State Trustee, Sergeant at Arms and Chaplain.  He also served on the State Board as Secretary from 2013-2015.  Chris started his career with the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office in 1993 as a Detention Deputy.  During his 29 year tenure he held the ranks of Deputy, Crime Scene Technician, Sergeant and Lieutenant.  He worked in a variety of Divisions and Units within the Office including Adult Detention, Court Security, Welfare Building Security, Water Patrol, Civil, Crime Lab, Personnel, Internal Affairs and Patrol.  Chris is currently a member of Brainerd Lakes Area Lodge 11.

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Nicholas R. Leinen is a member of Northwest Minnesota FOP Large #8. He has been a member for 19 years. He served as a local lodge secretary and is the current president. He assumed the role of State Secretary mid-term, appointed by the board. Nicholas works for the Moorhead Police Department as a Patrol Sergeant. He previously served the department as a Patrol Officer and a Detective.

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Karol Strey has been an active member of the Fraternal Order of Police for more than 11 years.  She joined the Federal Officers Alliance Lodge 4 in early 2009.  She has been the State Trustee for Lodge 4 since 2012.  A positions she still holds to this day.  In 2016 Karol was elected to the Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police State Board as the Sgt-At-Arms.  Karol started her Law Enforcement career in 1993 when she was hired as an Inspector by U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.  She worked in Miami, Florida at the International Airport.  In 2000 Karol transferred to the Port of Key West, Florida.  In 2005 the Agency became U.S. Customs and Border Protection.  She transferred to the Airport in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2008.

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Ruben Marichalar has been an active member in the F.O.P. since 2002 and is currently a member of Lakes Area Lodge #11 where he serves as the Local Lodge Treasurer. Ruben has also served on the State Board and has held the positions of 3rd Vice President, 2nd Vice President and Vice President.  Ruben has been active in National Police Week since 2004 and has been a member of the Grand Lodge National Memorial Committee since 2008.  Ruben and the other committee members play an integral role in the planning and execution of the National Peace Officers Memorial Service held on May 15th of each year.

 

Ruben is currently employed by the Minnesota State Patrol and is assigned to District 2800 in Brainerd.  He works the 2840 beat, Brainerd proper.  Ruben has also worked as a Technical Sergeant for District 2000 at Camp Ripley as the EVOC/NEVO Coordinator and as a 3C Verbal Communications/De-escalations Tactics Instructor.  He also was a road Trooper in District 3200 in Thief River Falls assigned to several of the beats as well as an FTO, Commercial Vehicle Inspector and as an EVOC Instructor.

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Matt Hagen has been an active member of the Fraternal Order of Police for 20 years.  Since joining Lake Minnetonka Lodge 6 in 1999, he has held nearly every elected position on the board, including 3-terms as lodge president.  In 2005 Matt was elected to the Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police State Board as the Sgt-At-Arms.  He held that position until he was elected as the Vice President in April of 2013.  Matt is also the Co-Chair of the National Memorial Committee, which is responsible for the planning, setup and execution of the National Peace Officers Memorial Service in Washington D.C.  Matt has been employed by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office since 1999 as a Deputy Sheriff.  In his time with Hennepin County, he has worked in the Jail and Court Security Divisions.  He is currently a K-9 Handler and is assigned to the Enforcement Services Division-Patrol Unit working overnights.

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Gary Cayo has been an active member of the Minnesota FOP since 1998. He joined as a charter member of Minnetonka Lodge #6.  He served as the State Trustee for Lodge #6 from 1998 to 2001; in 2001 he was elected to serve as the Minnesota State President.  As President, Gary formed the Minnesota FOP Foundation a tax-deductible organization developed to assist officers and their families in their time of need. He also was instrumental in the formation of the Minnesota Legal Defense Plan, this plan for a small fee covers most of the officer’s legal fees.  Gary is currently the President of the Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police Foundation and coordinates requests for donations from those in need.

 

Gary retired from Minnetonka Police Department where he worked for 25 years; he first started his police career with the Mound Police Department where he worked for 6 years.  As a patrol officer Gary worked as in the Patrol division, as a General Case Investigator, Hostage Negotiator and Use of Force Instructor. In 1990 he was promoted to Sergeant. As Sergeant his supervised all of the above areas.  Since 1978, Gary has volunteered with the Boy Scouts Of America-Learning for Life division.  He continues to serve as the State Conference Chairperson for the Law Enforcement Explorers.  For his work with the Boy Scouts Gary received the “Silver Beaver” and “William Spurgeon” awards the two highest awards given to a volunteer by the Council.

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Bob was a charter member of Lodge 3 and served as the lodge's first Vice President.  He served as the State Lodge's first Sgt-At-Arms from 1993-1994 and was elected as the State Lodge's 2nd State President in 1994.  Bob served as State President until 1996 and was instrumental bringing the F.O.P. where it is today.  Bob continues to be active in the F.O.P. is currently a member of Lake Minnetonka Lodge 6.  He serves as the lodge's Sgt-At-Arms and enjoys passing on his knowledge of the F.O.P. to younger members.  Bob worked for the Edina Police Department as a patrol officer from 1974 to 1999 and is spending his retired years golfing, traveling and attending F.O.P. events.

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Bob was one of three founding charter members of the Minnesota FOP. He was the one that had the idea to bring this organization to Minnesota and the state is a better place for police officers because of his inspiration. Over his many years of service to the FOP he held many leadership positions at the local lodge and state level, always contributing. Bob spent 25 years as a police officer in Edina and was a veteran of Operation Desert Shield. Bob passed away in 2023, leaving the world a better place.

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Fred is retired from the St Paul Park P.D. with 20 years of service. He was on the original SWAT team in South Washington County, served as firearms instructor and use of force instructor.  Fred was instrumental in the organization of the Fraternal Order of Police in Minnesota. He served as the 1st President of Lodge #1, 1st President of MN FOP State Lodge, 1st MN FOP National Trustee, and was the 1st recipient of the MN FOP Member of the Year Award.  Fred initiated lawful gambling (pulltabs) in Lodge #1. During his tenure as gambling manager, Lodge #1 was able to donate over $250,000 to Law Enforcement and Lodge #1 community.  Fred is enjoying golf, fishing and woodworking during retirement.

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Steve began his law enforcement career as an officer in Orono and later in Brooklyn Park. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant before retirement. Steve spent many years in FOP serving in several leadership roles including state president. He is best known as a world renowned police canine trainer and importer. Canine handlers and trainers from all over lean on Steve for advice and training needs.

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Valerie has served as the Administrative Coordinator for the State Lodge since 2010.  She began her law enforcement career in 2017 and has been a member of South Central Lodge #16 since that time.  Valerie is currently employed by the Owatonna Police Department.  During her law enforcement career Valerie has served as a patrol officer, child protection investigator, reserve coordinator, and currently serves as a patrol sergeant.

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