Carlson returns home to join Ritzville PD force

After nearly 20 years, Matthew Carlson has returned to Ritzville as an officer for the Ritzville Police Department. Carlson transferred to the Ritzville office two months ago as a lateral transfer from Texas.

As a lateral transfer, Carlson spent the first month and a half completing field training under the supervision of Sergeant Mark Cameron. After completing a two-week training course at the Academy earlier this month, Carlson has begun working full shifts for the local detachment.

Carlson moved to Ritzville around the age of four, after being born in Germany. Being born into a military family, the desire to serve his country was in his blood and Carlson pursued a career as a policeman.

After attending the Ritzville schools until sophomore year, Carlson transferred to Odessa High School where he graduated in 1995. He moved on to join the Army and continue the family legacy.

In the Army, Carlson served 15 years as a military police solider. During his service, he was stationed in New Jersey, Alabama, Texas, Germany and Korea. He also deployed to Iraq as part of a canine unit after attending canine school through the Army. He served two contracts overseas as a dog handler. He also spent two years as a police officer in Texas.

Carlson explained he has always wanted to serve in law enforcement, being motivated and inspired by his father, uncle and grandfather who all pursued careers in law enforcement. After finishing basic training and beginning his career as a solider, Carlson said it was evident to him he had chosen the right career path.

Carlson said he had planned to move back to Ritzville, and the job opening at the RPD served as a perfect opportunity for him to return home. He moved back to the community with his longtime girlfriend, Margaret Kuen.

During his previous service in Killeen, Texas, Carlson explained crime rate was incredibly high and responsibilities differed based on the high amount of crime. In Ritzville, he said, he has the opportunity to follow a case from beginning to end, while in larger departments, the case is passed on from patrolmen to detectives. Carlson stated he believes following a case through helps to gain more satisfaction from the job.

While transferring to different locations in the service, Carlson explained he had to learn the laws of the state he was serving in, and the experience of studying laws has allowed him to transfer smoothly into learning Washington law. At the Academy, the primary focus was to learn Washington law, case laws and an overview of how things run in the state.

Aside from returning to his hometown and reunited with family and friends, Carlson is looking forward to serving as a community police officer. Carlson said he has recognized changes within Ritzville, but at the same time it seems comparable to the city he left nearly 20 years ago.

The biggest highlight for Carlson, “Honestly, I can do more community-oriented policing. I get to talk to people.”

Carlson understands the dynamics of a small town, and while it was one of the largest draws for him to return home to work in law enforcement, he understands the complexities that can come with the job. His main priority is to remain objective in his job and treat everyone equally and with respect, a character trait he learned during his time in the Army.

Since moving to the community, Carlson now serves as the Ritzville Police Department representative on a local Block Watch committee. He will attend the meetings of the community members, assist with issues and answer questions about the committee members’ concerns.

Returning home to Ritzville and coming back to a small town has been a huge positive for Carlson, and having the opportunity to continue his career in law enforcement is the highlight for him.

“I enjoy it, it’s what I’ve always wanted to do,” Carlson said about his career. “It’s what I enjoy.”

While Carlson is excited for his future at the Ritzville Police Department, he said he prefers to live life one day at a time, a motto he took on during his service in Iraq. He wants to serve the community to the highest of his ability and create a safe environment for the residents of Ritzville.