Bert Otto

Welcome to my CaringBridge site. It has been created to keep friends and family updated and so I can keep a journal of everything that is going on.

Be sure to read the latest in the journal, view the photo gallery, and drop me a line in the guestbook. My Story is the introduction to my CaringBridge site and provides some background information about me.



I was born in Thief River Falls, MN - January 21, 1975 and grew up in Badger, MN. In 1987 we discovered that I had hereditary spherocytosis which is a genetic disorder causing the red blood cells to be abnormally shaped. This resulted in an enlarged spleen and gall stones. I had my spleen and gall bladder removed when I was 12. I graduated high school in 1993 and was not able to enlist in the Marines due to my medical condition. I went on to get an associates degree in Law Enforcement at the Alexandria Technical College. I completed an internship with the Roseau County Sheriff's Office and also worked part time for the Greenbush Police Dept. I married Rachel Lee from Roseau in 1995 and we moved to Moorhead, MN. I worked for an armored car / private security company as Rachel finished her last year at Moorhead State University. I began testing for a full time police position during that time throughout MN, ND, SD, and WI. I tested for the Rochester Police Department in 1996 and made it onto their 2 year waiting list. After Rachel graduated I was hired by the police department in Wishek, ND. I only worked there for 9 months before getting hired in Rochester in March, 1998. Our son Jacob was born 9 months later - Dec. 8th, 1998. Kayla was born Dec. 2nd, 2000 and Rachel was a stay at home mom until the kids were both in school. She went back to work part-time as an assistant preschool teacher at Kingdom Kids - Christ Community Church. We purchased our current house in Northwest Rochester in 2002. I am a training officer, use of force and firearms instructor at the police department and also a driving and firearms instructor at RCTC (Rochester Community and Technical College). I have also been teaching basic and advanced rider motorcycle courses around the area since 2007. I was diagnosed and began my fight with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in January, 2007. I worked in the Rochester Police Narcotics Unit from 2008 to 2012 during which time I also completed my bachelor degree in law enforcement from Metro State University. In July, 2015, I was promoted to Sergeant and currently work as a night shift supervisor for the north team. I enjoy working on house projects, taking the kids boating and camping, playing drums, fishing, golfing, riding motorcycle, and hanging out with friends.