Officer Rustad has been a lifelong resident of the area and graduated from Crosby-Ironton High School in 2008. Rustad attended Central Lakes College in Brainerd and earned his AAS Degree in Criminal Justice in 2021. Rustad has worked Part-Time for Pequot Lakes Police Department as well as Baxter Police Department. Prior to his career in Law Enforcement, he worked in Emergency Medical Services as and EMT since 2009 in the Brainerd Lakes Area.