AUTOBIOGRAPHY

My name is Terry Strege and I was born in Edina, MN in February of 1969. I am the eldest of three
with two younger sisters. I grew up in South Minneapolis. My parents moved our family to Bloomington
in my teens. I grew up in that suburb of 85,000 people. My mother worked as a librarian with Hennepin
County and in the school lunch program while we were in school. My father worked for the Minnesota
Department of Transportation (MNDOT) for 43 years. From them I learned the value of dedication and
loyalty. My parents emphasized the importance of education. My younger sisters both went on to become
doctors and have families of their own.
As a adolescent I enjoyed participating in sports, and my father often volunteered as a team coach. My
father as a role model showed me the value and importance of volunteering. As a child, when playing
with friends, I always had to be the “good guy.” We often played cops and robbers, and I was always the
cop. This was the beginning of my dream to become a police officer. My family has a history in law
enforcement. My uncle was a Minneapolis police officer, a cousin worked for the Ramsey County
Sheriff's Office and a nephew works for the Minnesota State Patrol.
I graduated from Bloomington Kennedy high school and continued my education at Normandale
Community College. I lived at home with my parents to save money and worked during college at a
mental health facility in downtown Minneapolis where I learned to understand and manage mentally ill
individuals. During that time I also joined the Bloomington Police Department Reserve unit to gain law
enforcement experience serving as a reserve officer for three years. While at Normandale I was selected
to complete my internship at the United States Marshal's Service. I earned an Associate of Applied
Science degree in Law Enforcement in 1990.
I continued my education at Minnesota State University Mankato, while there, I continued to work at the
mental health facility on weekends. I joined the Mankato Department of Public Safety as a police reserve
officer. I passed the state board exam and became a licensed police officer. I quickly worked my way up
in the department and was promoted to the supervisory positions of Corporal and Sergeant. I was assigned
to the Critical Incident Debriefing Team in Region 9. My service to Mankato was for three years until I
became employed full time. My passion for sports continued in college. I played broomball, softball, and
volleyball with friends. I graduated in 1992 with a BA, degree in Law Enforcement and a minor in
Corrections. I was on the dean's list at both universities. I completed my education and skills training at
the law enforcement training center in Edina, Minnesota for 12 weeks. My full time police license was
activated after passing the state board exam.
I had applied for several scholarships to help pay for my education, and received the Bloomington Crime
Prevention scholarship and the Minnesota Chiefs of Police scholarship. With these two scholarships and
my working, I was able to graduate debt free without loans. My parents always emphasized the
importance of fiscal responsibility.
In 1993, I was hired by the Wright County Sheriff''s Office. I moved to Wright County and began my
dream career in law enforcement as a Deputy Sheriff. I was selected to work undercover in the Wright
County Drug Task Force. I worked drug and special investigations cases for two years. Just prior to
transferring to the task force I met my future wife, Dianne. We enjoy cooking, grilling, and spending time
with our families. We also go camping in our camper with our dogs. We bought a home in Buffalo, MN,
in 1999. We bought our first dog shortly thereafter, fulfilling my desire to be involved with dogs. I was a
founding member of the Four Points Retriever Club, a division of the North American Hunting Retriever
Association. I have been elected to several positions including member at large and vice president, and
served two terms as president of the club. My wife and I breed chocolate Labrador Retrievers. We have
placed puppies all across the country in their forever homes. I judge and handle retrievers in hunt tests on
weekends. I train and handle my own dogs. I run them in the American Kennel Club (AKC), United
Kennel Club (UKC), and the North American Hunting Retriever Association (NAHRA). Our dogs have
qualified at the highest levels and one qualified at the Richard Wolters NAHRA Invitational. In 2019, I
was selected to judge the NAHRA National Invitational in Palmer, AK, a once-in-a-lifetime honor. Three
judges from across the country are selected. My dogs and I also were selected to guide for the Minnesota

Governor’s Pheasant opener in 2017 and 2018. I was elected to the position of secretary of the Wright
County Police and Peace Officers Association,which held fundraisers to provide scholarships to law
enforcement candidates in college.
While at the Wright County Sheriff's Office I have served in many capacities. I joined the Major Crimes
Investigation Unit and served for seven years. I was called out to respond to any major crime in the
county from death investigations to crash scenes and burglaries. I would process the scene for evidence
and preserve it for prosecution and court testimony. I was selected as a rescue recovery diver on the
Recreational Enforcement Unit and served for seven years. I was a scuba-certified diver through the
Professional Association of Diving Instructors. I was selected to the Emergency Response Team on which
I served for seven years six of them as a Sniper. I attended basic and advanced sniper schools at Camp
Ripley, MN. I was the lead Sniper for five years. I was called out to respond to critical dangerous
incidents in the county. I was selected as a field training officer shortly after probation. I was a field
trainer for nine years minus the time I spent under cover in the drug task force, supervising and training
new recruits. I was transferred to the Court Security Division and served twelve years in the courthouse
and courtrooms. I am currently back on the road in the patrol division, patrolling the streets of Wright
County responding to calls for service and enforcing the law. I have been serving in a law enforcement
capacity since 1989.
I enjoy volunteering at many charitable events including the Special Olympics Polar Plunge, the
Minnesota Torch Run, and Toys for Tots. I am the co-founder of two charitable events. The first is the
Disabled Veterans hunt held in Ney Park Wright County each year. Disabled veterans are allowed to hunt
ducks in the park for one day and the Four Points Retriever Club provides the guide service and dogs for
the participants.The second event is Fetch-A-Cure which is held for six days each year at Game Fair in
Anoka County. FPRC runs the event and dogs retrieve a Dokken duck in a timed event. All proceeds go
to a cancer patient selected by the club. Several recipients in the past have been Wright County residents.
This event is personal to me because I am a cancer survivor. These events are in their tenth consecutive
year. I currently mentor kids and adults on turkey hunts throughout Wright County. My hobbies include
hunting, fishing, and training, and judging dogs.
As I document my life and experience, I realize how influential my parents, siblings, wife, co-workers,
and friends have been. They shaped and influenced my ethics, integrity, professionalism, and a
philosophy of hard work. I am confident that my training, education, and life experience will serve me
well in my future endeavors while continuing my volunteerism and service in the community. I look
forward to the challenge of serving Wright County as your commissioner for District 1.

Terry Strege