OPD’s Van Alstine is 2025 Officer of the Year

There’s nothing like a standing ovation from a crowded room to let someone know they matter.

In Detective John Van Alstine’s case, it came during National Police Week, specifically, on Peace Officers Memorial Day.

A five-year member of the Owatonna Police Department, he was honored as the 2025 Police Officer of the Year, an award presented annually by the Moonlighter’s Exchange Club.

“John is a great police officer, detective, dedicated teammate and a valued friend,” said OPD Chief Jeff Mundale. “Over the past five years, I’ve seen remarkable growth in confidence in him as an Owatonna police officer, investigator and instructor.”

Van Alstine was assigned to the detective bureau in 2022; he specializes in child protection services.

Detective Christian Berg was unable to attend the recognition banquet for his friend and coworker but sent a message that Mundale shared.

“I vividly remember the day this guy walked into the detective bureau; I thought, ‘OMG, who is this guy?’ He didn’t fit the typical cop mode; he was a ninja master, loved video games and was a master of woodwork,” Berg wrote.

“John quickly made a name for himself as fair, kind and firm,” he continued. “His life experience, background and personality were something OPD needed... He is a great guy with a good heart. I just want him to know how much we honor him as a partner, peer and friend.”

Van Alstine’s life of service started two decades ago, when he joined the Army National Guard. He served from 2005 to 2013 and was deployed to Kosovo in 2007 as an infantryman.

He was a federal law enforcement officer with the Department of Veteran Affairs from 2014 until joining the OPD in 2019. In addition to his work in investigations, Van Alstine serves as a certified defense tactics and use of force instructor for the department.

But still…

“I’ve got some accolades I can fall back on,” he said after receiving the award, “but like many of my fellow officers, I don’t always feel the weight of those achievements. We shrug them off; they don’t always register as significant, even when they should.

“We definitely do not deal with insignificant matters,” Van Alstine said. “We search for the right words to tell strangers they lost a loved one; we fight with the mentally ill because it’s the last option to get them help … we deal with hurt children; we chase down criminals who mean society harm; we take drugs off the street” that could result in death.

“None of these matters is small,” he said, “but nights like this remind us it’s OK to acknowledge ourselves. What we do is a big deal. We may never know the ripple effects of our work, but that doesn’t make them any less real. Everything we do in this job has an impact on the community we serve.”

Van Alstine thanked his family, friends, coworkers and the Moonlighters for taking the time and effort to attend.

“Thank you, not just for recognizing me, but for recognizing all of us,” he said of the local first responders. “Thank you for reminding us that we do matter and thank you for making me feel like a big deal, even just for tonight.”

Then it was Annette Duncan’s turn to offer thanks. The president of the Moonlighter’s and emcee of the evening spoke to Van Alstine and the other officers in attendance.

“We thank you for getting up, every single day, and despite what you are confronted with, you do it with pride and respect, and to remind us that every single one of us matters,” she said.

“We are here tonight to say we support you, we value you, we treasure you, and we know we would not be where we are without you,” Duncan said.

“And please, please, please, get up tomorrow morning and do it again. We’re counting on you.”