Sergeant Lee Sorensen - Tremonton-Garland Police Department - Utah

August 17, 2025, was a very tragic day for the Tremonton-Garland Police Department in Utah, a department with only 21 police officers.  On this day, the police department lost two of their officers in a shooting.   

Sergeant Lee Sorensen was one of these officers.  Sergeant Sorensen and Officer Eric Estrada were responding to multiple 911 hang-up calls at a residence in Tremonton at approximately 9:00 p.m.  They were both shot and killed responding to this call.  

While on of them was talking to a resident in the home about a domestic dispute, a man exited the house with a gun, opened fire, and mortally wounded the officer. Another officer arrived as backup and was also shot and killed. A deputy and a K9 from the Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after being shot while in their patrol vehicle.

As additional officers arrived, bystanders convinced the man to surrender. He was arrested and charged with aggravated murder.

During Sgt. Sorensen's 16 year tenure as a police officer, he became an advanced law enforcement rapid response training (ALERRT) and emergency medical services (EMS) instructor which gave him the knowledge and ability to respond to all types of situations and interact with first responders throughout the community and Box Elder County.

He enjoyed community policing, especially when on his bicycle, since it gave him the opportunity to stop and interact with citizens wherever he went.  The county fair was one of Lee's favorite annual events, which included his most favorite part, the parade.

Sergeant Sorensen's love of teaching others led him to become an emergency medical services (EMS) instructor and a field training officer (FTO).  He had just earned the rank of Sergeant and talked every day about how he could help others become better officers.  The respect and empathy he felt for the deceased and their families led him to become the medical examiner investigator in Box Elder County.  He was able to interact with many agencies over the last two years in this capacity and that service was one of the highlights of his career. 

Sergeant Sorensen also had a large impact on the youth in the Tremonton and Garland area.  He loved teaching young people how to make good choices and decisions so they could grow into respected members of the community, but his talent was to do it in such a way that was unexpected and resulted in lifelong impacts.  One of his favorite events was the Special Olympic Torch Run.  He looked forward to this opportunity each year to interact with the athletes who came through the valley.

Lee was larger than life and had the ability to connect with people.  It didn't matter where he went, there always seemed to be someone that he knew.  He is remember for his quiet acts of service and will continue to be an example of patience and tolerance.  Lee always acknowledged the fact that we are all different but we all deserve to be recognized. 

Sergeant Sorensen had served with the Tremonton-Garland Police Department for 16 years. He is survived by his wife and three children. Sgt. Lee had married his high school sweetheart, Lanette Peterson, on Monday, August 18, 1994. Lanette celebrated their 31st anniversary the day after Lee’s passing.  

As part of our "Plaques for Heroes" campaign, engraved slate memorial plaques were sent to the Tremonton-Garland Police Department and to Sergeant Lee Sorensen's family at no cost to honor his service and his sacrifice to the community of Tremonton-Garland, Utah. Our condolences to his family, his department and the community he served.