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Retired deputy tells Todd County commissioners law enforcement ‘is a different deal’ — even after retirement
Summary
Greg Hansen, a retired deputy from Little South Township, told the Todd County Board during public comment that law enforcement is a job on and off duty and that many retired officers live with threats, traumatic memories and ongoing safety concerns.
LONG PRAIRIE, Minn. — During the public comment period Tuesday, Greg Hansen of Little South Township described the long-term impacts of police work and urged recognition of the continuing risks faced by retired law-enforcement officers.
“My name is Greg Hansen from Little South Township,” Hansen told the commissioners. “When you are in law enforcement, that is a whole different job. It is a job while you're on duty. It is a job while you're off duty, and it can be a job even after you retire.”
Hansen said officers can receive threats and live with traumatic memories. He recounted a former deputy friend who was assaulted during a burglary call and later faced threats from the suspect. “When you retire, I don't care what job you're doing — usually, you don't have anybody that's threatened you — and so they have to live that way where you're always facing the door, the window,” Hansen said.
Hansen compared lingering effects to combat-related trauma, saying retired officers can experience flashbacks and difficult memories. He closed by praising the sheriff’s department and saying officers and deputies “will go through the door” in life-or-death situations.
Why this matters: Public-comment remarks provide the board and community with perspectives on law enforcement working conditions and mental-health impacts that can inform future policy discussions or county support for veterans and first responders.
Next steps: No formal action followed Hansen’s comment; the board listened and did not respond during the public-comment period, per standard practice.
