District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2024-06-17
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) patrolled Lake of the Woods and Hayes Lake monitoring boating and fishing activity. Active shooter training was attended in Warroad with other agencies. Violations for the week included angling with extra lines and angling without a license.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area anglers, monitoring ATV traffic, and following up on various complaints. Violations encountered were allowing illegal operation, failure to use headlights on an ATV, operating an ATV on a state highway, and juvenile operation.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week patrolling Lake of the Woods and the Beltrami Island State Forest. Fontes assisted the Law Enforcement Memorial Association with the funeral for fallen Minneapolis Police Officer Jamal Mitchell. Fontes reports a lot of shallow success for walleye anglers on the big lake, with most folks using various rigging setups to achieve that success. One highlight of his week was assisting an angler land a 63-inch sturgeon they unexpectedly caught on walleye gear. Enforcement action was taken for the use of an extra line, improper safety equipment, and no angling license in possession.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports increased boat and ATV activity. Time was spent working AIS and ATV activity. Enforcement action was taken for youth helmet violations. Prachar happened across a litter of discarded kittens in the woods. They were all too young to care for themselves. He worked with a local animal rescue group to get the kittens to a safe home. Spaying and neutering animals is a small and inexpensive act when compared with the money, time, and effort put into finding/giving animals a safe home after they have been discarded.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) continues to receive nuisance-bear complaints. Homeowners are reminded to remove all food sources from the area to not draw bears to the area. He also conducted a law enforcement ride-along and checked area anglers. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license, no ATV safety training, failure to display ATV registration, and operating an ATV without required lights.
CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) spent time handling various wildlife-related complaints throughout the week and monitoring ATV activity. Violations encountered included operating an ATV without headlights and operating an ATV on a state highway. Time was also spent assisting Kittson County with a house fire.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent the week monitoring ATV and angling activity throughout the area. Various wildlife-related complaints were handled throughout the week as well. Enforcement action was taken for operating an ATV with juvenile passengers without helmets, failing to display ATV registration, angling with an extra line, and allowing unlawful operation of an ATV.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) monitored angling activity on Upper Red Lake and Blackduck-area lakes. The bite has varied from day to day depending on weather conditions. Strong winds have limited activity on Upper Red Lake. Nuisance-bear complaints were taken.
Baudette East vacant.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2024-06-17
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports working angling and watercraft enforcement this past week. Time was also spent instructing at the CO Academy and attending a firearms safety class in East Grand Forks.
CO Andrew Ladzinski (Bemidji #1) spent time patrolling for ATV activity and checking anglers on local lakes. He also fielded multiple calls about nuisance bears. Despite heavy winds, anglers were still managing to catch a few walleyes. Enforcement action was taken for no PFDs or throwable onboard watercraft, no angling license in possession, no ATV safety certificate, and operating off-highway motorcycles on public roadways.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) checked anglers, ATV riders, and boaters during routine patrol. Additional time was spent responding to angling and aquatic plant TIP complaints. Moderate sunfish die-offs comparable to winterkill were reported on numerous Otter Tail County lakes. The proper authorities are aware of the fish kill.
CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) handled numerous wildlife-related complaints, and patrolled area lakes and trails. A special project shift was worked on the Gull Lake Chain. Enforcement action for the week included PFD violations, operation of unregistered ATVs, and illegal operation of an off-highway motorcycle.
CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week following up on wildlife-related calls and investigating reports of hunting and fishing violations. Time was also spent at the CO Academy at Camp Ripley.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on angling and boating activity. Information was provided to individuals concerned about bear activity. Complaints of aquatic vegetation removal and public water usage were investigated. She patrolled for ATV and off-road vehicle activity.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) responded to and worked on TIP calls this past week. Angler checks were conducted, and boating and kayak safety laws was enforced. Questions about watercraft registrations and life jackets were also answered. A common violation is boaters not having the Type IV throwable out and immediately available on watercraft 16 feet and longer. Manteufel would like to remind ATV riders to always have their lights on as well.
CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #2) had the honor of attending the funeral service for Minneapolis Police Officer Jamal Mitchell. Time was also spent checking area anglers and conducting ATV enforcement for the Kicking Up Country event. Enforcement action was taken for ATV operation on roads, ATV operation without lights, ATV youth helmets required, and failure to renew registration.
Pelican Rapids vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2024-06-17
CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) finished the transportation project this week and assisted with training at the CO Academy. She also prepared background packets for the next round of hiring.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) responded to an injured-loon call and was able to release the loon into nearby open water. Fishing, boating, ATV, and AIS enforcement was conducted throughout the week. Bear sightings continue to filter in, and a possible fish kill was handled.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) checked anglers, boaters, and ATV riders throughout the week. Brown received numerous calls regarding orphaned animals. A reminder to leave them alone. If they are moved, chances of survival are greatly reduced. Other miscellaneous items were investigated.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, boaters, ATV riders, and commercial minnow dealers. AIS checks were done at area boat accesses. Injured-animal calls were received and handled.
CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling area lakes for angling and recreational boating activities. The warm weather over the weekend brought an abundance of people onto the water to recreate. Time was spent at a Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA) kid?s fishing tournament at Arrowwood Resort on Sunday with CO Znajda. Enforcement action was taken for numerous boating and angling violations.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) began her week with Honor Guard duties at fallen Minneapolis Police Officer Jamal Mitchell?s funeral. Then she posted the colors at the Association of Midwest Game and Fish Law Enforcement Officers convention at Itasca State Park. She spoke with multiple anglers taking part in a walleye tournament on Lake Osakis on Saturday. All of them were law-abiding. She also attended the MPPOA kid?s fishing tournament with lots of happy kids as the fishing was hot. She encountered other various violations throughout the week including illegal-length walleyes on special regulation lakes.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports handling various complaints over the week. A few fires were investigated, many shore anglers were checked, and a youth ATV violation was handled. Douvier is also looking for new firearms safety instructors who would like to help get kids certified. If this interests you, please reach out to her.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on checking anglers and boaters. Additional time was spent monitoring AIS law compliance and patrolling the state park.
Wheaton vacant.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2024-06-10
CO Corey Sura (Remer) fielded black bear complaints and started investigation of a wetlands/public waters violation he was made aware of. Enforcement action was taken for an angler in possession of an illegal length northern pike. CO?s Sura and Van Asch assisted Itasca County Sheriff?s office with rescuing a boater on Bowstring Lake. The individual was out fishing in strong winds with a small boat, when he mistook where the landing was located and began taking water over the stern of the boat, filling the watercraft completely. The individual and his four-legged friend were unharmed in the incident.
CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the area lakes and observed varying success for anglers. CO Baum found several off highway vehicles on area trails. CO Baum has noticed an increase of OHM in the area riding in prohibited areas and wants to remind OHM riders to review the rules and trail maps. CO Baum took enforcement action for various angling, boating, and recreational vehicle violations.
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) spoke at 2 ATV safety classes. She also followed up on ongoing cases and responded to a car accident.
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked angling, boating, and ATV enforcement. Numerous calls were taken for nuisance bears and other questions were fielded. Enforcement action was taken for boating, angling, and ATV violations.
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) checked anglers, boaters, and ATV riders. Area fishing has picked up as several anglers have been having success. A TIP call regarding an over limit of crappies was taken, the anglers were located on the highway and followed to their cabin. While at the cabin the six anglers were found to have 12 crappies over their limit. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) patrolled Cass Co lakes for angling and boating activity. CO McGowan also assisted with a detail on Mille Lacs Lake, and assisted with training at the Conservation Officer academy at Camp Ripley. Enforcement action was taken for multiple violations throughout the week.
CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) Reports attending an event at an elementary school with CO Brodin and K9 Jet where students learned about invasive species and how K9?s are trained to detect zebra mussels. Students also learned about species ID and were able to view the TIP trailer. Seifermann and K9 Jet continue to prepare for upcoming certifications.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) checked anglers and recreational vehicle activity primarily. A special beaver permit was issued and an aquatic plant removal report was investigated. Enforcement action was taken for boating and burning related violations.
ATV rec officer vacant.
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