HomeMy WebLinkAboutPR Rofidal SOTA Award
City of Edina 4801 W. 50th St. Edina, MN 55424
Contact: Mia Vacanti, Communications Intern
Phone: 952-833-9522 commintern@EdinaMN.gov EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Edina Police Sergeant Receives Lifetime Achievement
Award
Edina, Minn., April 20, 2016 – Police Sgt. Kevin Rofidal recently received the Special Operations Training
Association (SOTA) Lifetime Achievement Award.
“Sgt. Rofidal is recognized for outstanding achievement and superior performance while serving as a team
member and a team leader in the department from 1998 to 2015,” said St. Paul Police Sgt. Liam Duggan. “No
other member of the Edina Police Department has served on the SWAT team longer.”
SOTA is a non-profit organization comprised of public safety personnel, including tactical officers, crisis
negotiators, safety personnel, legal advisors, communication support and paramedics. The association was
created by its members and for its members to bring special operations training to all the public safety
organizations.
Rofidal has served on the Board of Directors for 17 of SOTA’s 21 years of existence.
“If I had to sum up receiving the award in one word, I would say I’m ‘humbled,’” said Rofidal. “I remember
being a young officer at this conference and watching all these older, more experienced SWAT officers. I was
at that stage where I was trying to learn as much as I could and gain as much knowledge from them as
possible. The work that goes into SOTA is very rewarding, but it’s also a lot of work.”
Lt. Brian Tholen, who attended the award ceremony April 11 at the St. Cloud Rivers Edge Convention
Center, believes Rofidal is very deserving of the award.
“Kevin gives his heart and soul in everything he does, from SWAT to EPD,” said Tholen. “He was the leader
in getting us a new weapon system and he has given his intelligence and ability to write grants to get us the
armored vehicle. Kevin’s ability to work as a team member within SOTA, and within leading the Edina SWAT
team for many years, has led to several successful SWAT operations.”
For more information, contact the Edina Police Department, 952-826-1610.
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