ABC Newspapers 2025 Anoka Halloween | Page 6

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HALLOWEEN MAGAZINE

October 22, 2025 | Anoka County Shopper | Page 6

Celebrity Grand Marshal Paul Thomas

Since 2015, the LIVIN Foundation has worked to bring Help, Hope, and Hugs to those impacted by mental illness and suicide, starting with nothing more than a PO Box in Anoka. Today, just a decade later, we’ re proud to call Anoka home with our first small office in town— an inspiring step forward for our mission.

At the heart of it all has been Paul Thomas or“ PT”( as many know him from his morning show, Thunder & PT on 102.9 The Wolf) who founded the LIVIN Foundation after losing his father to suicide, choosing to focus on how his dad lived rather than how he died. PT has dedicated the last ten years to creating conversations around mental wellness, building a“ LIVIN Family / Community”, and reminding people everywhere to“ Get Busy LIVIN!”

As this year’ s Grand Marshal of the Anoka Halloween Parade, PT proudly represents both the foundation’ s roots and its future. We welcome you to join the movement, stand with us in HOPE, and help keep the conversation going— because although we cannot change the past, together, we CAN affect the future!

Grand Marshal

Eric Peterson

Eric Peterson retired as the 33rd Police Chief of the City of Anoka on March 21st 2025. Chief Peterson’ s career spanned over 36 years, filling many roles and responsibilities of the department. In 1986 at age 16, he started in the Anoka Police Explorer Program. After graduating from Coon Rapids High School, he joined the Anoka Police Reserve Unit and was hired as a police security officer assigned to the Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center. During that time, he completed his associate’ s degree and certifications to become a police officer. In 1992, he was hired by then Chief Andy Revering and filled the role of police officer, was selected as the department’ s criminal investigator in 1999. He was promoted to sergeant in 2001 and assigned as administrative sergeant in 2007. Completing his bachelor’ s degree and the North Western School of Police Staff and Command, he was then appointed to captain in May of 2016 under Chief Phil Johanson. He was honored to be appointed as Anoka’ s 33rd police chief in November of 2016.

During his tenure, Chief Peterson’ s goals were to improve the sense of safety in the community. He believed that every citizen has the right to feel safe at home, work, school and while visiting Anoka. He embraced the police department’ s core values of Respect, Integrity, and Service and used these values as a guide when he created and supported programs and initiatives to involve citizens in their police department. As a result, the police department and the community developed a more cohesive partnership, intended to reduce crime and increase safety and trust in the police department.

Anoka being the Halloween Capital of the World, Peterson would often point out that he has worked well over 100 parades consecutively during his time in Anoka. Even though all Anoka Police Staff’ s attendance is mandatory, Peterson knew that the role of the police department in the Halloween events was paramount for safety at the Halloween events and this was his number one priority for the month of October.

Button Design Winner

Alexander Bogie

Alexander has been a resident of Ham Lake for over ten years with his wife, Heather, and two cats, Everly and Pepper. He is employed as a Staff Accountant at IDC Spring in Coon Rapids. In his free time he enjoys gardening and growing giant pumpkins for competition at the MN State Fair and local fall festivals. Maybe you saw his 1,511 pound award winning pumpkin at the State Fair this year!

Before officially retiring, Chief Peterson said,“ I am deeply grateful for the relationships I have built with so many of you— business owners, community leaders, families, and young people who are the future of this city. It is these connections that have made my career so meaningful. From the countless conversations on neighborhood streets to community events where we came together as one, I will cherish these memories for the rest of my life.”