Hes been with the DNR since 2004 and in that time, the far northwest corner of Minnesota has rarely had all of its conservation officer posts filled. Grell had served as a DNR officer since 2005. Regas responded to a call of an eagle that had appeared to have been hit by a car. Officer Grell was laid to rest on Friday, according to the DNR. A reminder to have your ice houses off the lakes by the end of the day on March 6. (Minnesota DNR) They've saved a hunter's life, helped remove a deer running wild through the basement of a home and taught firearms safety classes. GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. (KEYC) The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says one of its conservation officers died in a two-vehicle crash near Grand Rapids while on duty Monday. In keeping with the family tradition, Officer Grell was committed to protecting both our states natural resources as well as those who enjoy them. And even though enforcement is one of the smaller divisions within the DNR, conservation officers often take the brunt of the questions and the criticism directed at all parts of this big, complex agency which is charged with both protecting natural resources and regulating their commercial use. In addition to a fine, the angler may be responsible for the cost of removal and the loss of their shelter. Money comes from a variety of fees and funds, so officers track the time they spend on enforcement tasks, because some like fishing or boating safety are paid for by fees the agency collects from activities like license sales. Time was also spent responding to miscellaneous wildlife-related calls. The semi driver was a 42-year-old Grand Rapids man. Grell's father, grandfather and an uncle also worked as conservation officers. We are saddened to announce the death of Conservation Officer Sarah Grell of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Enforcement Division, Minnesota. The current boundaries reflect the changes to MNDNR's Regional Restructuring from six to four regions in 2002. Eligibility for a license entails successful completion of the academic and skills components of a law enforcement training program. Conservation Officers employed by this division enforce laws regarding hunting, fishing, trapping, recreational vehicles, State Parks and wild rice harvesting. CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) continued to monitor angling and snowmobiling activity in the area. They also spend time teaching safety classes on guns, snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles. Seven of this years attendees have a traditional law enforcement background while the others took part in CO PREP, which provides candidates law enforcement training prior to their academy enrollment, so that theyre eligible for Peace Officer Standards and Training certification. Candidates will be subject to mandatory drug screening. Sarah Ann Grell, age 39, of Cohasset, MN went to be with her Savior on Monday, May 24, 2021. But a conservation officer, he said, is always trying to balance enforcing the law with maintaining good relationships, because in the area they work, they are the face of the DNR. [7] The semi driver, 42-year-old Milo J. Polovina, of Grand Rapids, suffered minor injuries. Coyote hunters were observed throughout the week. Enforcement action was taken for snowmobile violations, angling violations, and cross-country ski violations. Minnesotas conservation officers choose education as a way to enforce states natural resources laws, DNR fees are going up. All litter also must be removed from the ice. CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) attended NASBLA boat incident investigation training in Hudson, Wis. CO Chris Vinton (Perham) monitored shelters for the upcoming fish house removal deadline. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Enforcement Division's K9 unit has six handler/dog teams that have increased the division's effectiveness and efficiency in detecting fish and game violations, the presence of aquatic invasive species, evidence recovery, officer protection, and location of missing persons. Applicants who exceed the minimum qualifications are more likely to be chosen. Hes not buying the story that another family member left moments ago and forgot to reel in the extra line. Or call the Turn in Poachers hotline at 800-652-9093. I've been elected to the school board three times.". Officer Grell leaves behind an incredible legacy of service to Minnesota's people and natural resources. Severe weather throughout the week kept most activity to a minimal. in Criminal Justice, Online Associates and Bachelors in Criminal Justice Leadership Management, Associate of Arts with a concentration in Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration with a concentration in Security, http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/enforcement/jobs/hiring.html, Effects of Climate Change Require Game Wardens to Adapt, A Guide to Haleakal & Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, The Preservation of Rocky Mountain National Park, Not been placed currently on court-ordered probation, Not been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral laxity, Not been convicted of a crime of domestic violence, misdemeanor or otherwise, Not been convicted of perjury or false statement, Never been discharged or resigned under threat of discharge from any law enforcement position, Become certified as a Peace officer through POST, Complete basic police training in lieu of POST. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website offers information on training, volunteer opportunities, and job positions. Grell is the 23rd Minnesota conservation officer to die in the line of duty. And they sometimes need to enforce complex and contentious laws regulating lake shore development, or wetland protection. Assistance was given to CO Hams processing an overlimit. (Steve Kuchera / skuchera@duluthnews.com) Mary Manning has a leg up, actually many legs up, on any game law violator she . The perch bite was good again this past week. Fishing with too many lines, unattended lines, and northern pike within the protected slot being kept. Some have previous law enforcement backgrounds, while others decided to make a career change and study to become a conservation officer. Fargo, ND, USA / The Mighty 790 KFGO | KFGO. GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. - Authorities have identified the state conservation officer who died while on duty when a semi struck her pickup truck in Itasca County. The final settlement in the case was filed Feb. 5 with an administrative law judge in St. Paul and the case officially closed Feb. 14. Her loss is devastating, and we ask the people of Minnesota to keep Officer Grell and her family in their thoughts during this difficult time, Col. Smith said. "We don't have a quota, as far as percentages between tickets and warnings. Since the hiring process for conservation officers in Minnesota is highly competitive, applicants should have highly honed skill sets to improve their chances of being selected. The people of Minnesota and beyond thank her for her dedicated service. Being a Conservation Officer (CO) is not just a rewarding career, it's an opportunity to make a difference by protecting Minnesota's. natural resources and the people that use them. 14 conservation officers candidates now training with Minnesota DNR, Minnesota offers support to refugees and immigrants during COVID-19, Xoua Thao, Lue Yang named to service academies. A 39-year-old Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officer, one of many in her family who have served the agency, died while on duty Monday morning following a two-vehicle crash near Grand Rapids involving a pickup truck and a semitrailer truck, authorities said. %PDF-1.7 % You may only apply for one of these options. Swedberg is a conservation officer with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) attended training throughout the week. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says one of its conservation officers died Monday, May 24, 2021, in a two-vehicle crash near Grand Rapids while on duty. Am I going to get a ticket? he asks plaintively. "We don't look at any data in regards to the number of citations versus warnings.". In addition, Minnesota contains more than 8,100 fishable rivers that provide more shoreline than California, Florida, and Hawaii combined. CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports patrolling area grant-in-aid snowmobile trails. Your email address will not be published. A second focus is educating the public about safety. Officer Grell leaves behind an incredible legacy of service to Minnesotas people and natural resources.. A deer-possession permit was also issued. We are heartbroken for her family. An 11-year-old in the pickup suffered noncritical injuries. Enforcement action for the week including speeding on a snowmobile, operating an unregistered snowmobile, failing to transfer a snowmobile, and operating a snowmobile with modified exhaust. Anglers south of U.S. Highway 10 and State Highway 34 in the Perham area are reminded the shelter removal deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, March 6. A conservation officer is a law enforcement officer, subject to the same law as every other cop. For . We encourage you to perform your own independent research before making any education decisions. The duties of a conservation officer include patrolling to protect fish and wildlife and Minnesotas hunters and visitors, assessing damage or issues and trying to improve them, and collecting census data on wildlife. The purpose of the MCOA is to improve the working conditions of Conservation Officers; promote the general welfare. An investigation into a trapping violation was completed. As a reminder leaders at the Department of Natural Resources are asking anglers to remove ice shelters on lakes before it's too late. A deer-feeding case is being investigated in the Greenbush area. Several charges resulting, including driving while intoxicated and possession of drugs and paraphernalia. Our deepest sympathies and concerns are with them. Graduates of Conservation Officer Academy 20 are (front row, left to right): Meng Moua (Spring Valley), Victoria Griffith (Isle), Chelsey Bechel (Walker), Cassie Block (Willmar #2), Tou Vang (Pierz), and Ryan Brown (Karlstad . Lt. DNR Conservation Officer Victoria Griffith has officially taken her station in the Isle patrol area. Required fields are marked *. Most conservation officers are responsible for an area of the state or a whole county, and this makes the position both physically and mentally demanding. Lawrence Township, MN Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation Officer Sarah Grell died in the line of duty following a two-vehicle collision on Monday. Since 1887, Minnesota's conservation officers have protected the state's natural resources and people. Unless some exception to the warrant requirement exists (like an emergency that made it impossible to get a warrant), a conservation officer cannot search a residence without consent or a warrant. The Minnesota State Patrol says Grell was driving a Chevy pickup that was northbound on Itasca County Road 336 when a semi that was eastbound on Itasca County . CO Hanna Wood (Wheaton) spent this past week focusing on angling enforcement and working on follow up. "We do put a lot of weight on our officers shoulders to make good decisions in the field and for the most part, they really do.". A student from Baudette High School rode along with Huener and observed checks on Lake of the Woods. CO Andrew Goodman (Fergus Falls) worked snowmobile and ice shelter enforcement this week. And the job is getting more complex. If you need to contact a conservation officer, the best way is to contact the DNR Information Center at 888-646-6367. Retirements loom, too. She was part of a proud family legacy her uncle, father and grandfather also worked as conservation officers, the DNR noted. "Don't expect to kind of come out here and just be able to hook up and go. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has paid a fine of $29,500 for state occupational safety violations surrounding the death of Conservation Officer Eugene Wynn of Pine City in April. Paul Walsh is a general assignment reporter at the Star Tribune. Educating violators with a warning is a key part of a conservation officers job, he said. But . It turned out the report was not true. The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating the crash. (Minnesota DNR). It just: Do you believe what they say? Calls were answered about what happens if a shelter is not removed by the deadline. The Minnesota Management and Budget Office provides salary ranges for state conservation officer positions at various levels as calculated for fiscal year 2017. To comply with the settlement Salo said the DNR came up with some "reasonable'' solutions to improve safety compliance in the field things like helmets for snowmobiling and life jackets in watercraft such as FaceTime calls between supervisors and officers in the field to visually confirm safety compliance.
