DNR recognizes 3 Northland COs for lifesaving efforts in 2025

ST. PAUL — The Department of Natural Resources is recognizing three Northland conservation officers for their lifesaving efforts this year.

Park Rapids CO Nick Baum, Remer CO Corey Sura and International Falls CO Curtis Simonson received lifesaving awards, the DNR announced Friday, Sept. 5.

The agency regularly recognizes officers for their efforts. Ten Northland officers and a dog were formally awarded in March.

“Conservation officers never know what the day will bring, but they are always ready when someone is facing a difficult situation and needs their help,” said Col. Rodmen Smith, director of the DNR Enforcement Division, in a news release.

“It’s a testament to our officers’ character and training that they’re willing and able to put others’ needs above their own.”

Baum received the lifesaving award for his part in a rescue operation on the Fish Hook River. An angler had fallen through the ice this March. One of the responding officers fell through the ice after attempting to belly crawl to the angler.

The officer was unable to get out of the water due to the current and thin ice, so Baum tossed a throw rope to him. Baum and another officer pulled the officer from the water, then continued efforts to rescue the angler. The Park Rapids Fire Department arrived and successfully rescued the angler.

Sura was also recognized for his role in an ice rescue on the same day in March. An ATV fell through the ice on Big Rice Lake in Cass County while Sura was speaking to an angler on shore about 400 yards away.

He quickly assembled safety and rescue equipment and contacted dispatch to request an ambulance. The angler offered Sura use of his Snowdog, a small, tracked vehicle, to take onto the ice.

Sura found that two ATV riders had fallen through the ice and were submerged. Neither could get out of the water on their own.

With help from the angler on shore, Sura was able to get the ATV riders out of the water and back to shore. Once there, Sura had the two ATV riders change out of their wet clothes and sit in his warm truck. Emergency personnel arrived and decided the ATV riders didn’t need additional medical assistance.

Simonson received the lifesaving award for his role in a search for an elderly diabetic man this July. Simonson checked trails and noticed tracks, leading to Donald Larson's missing Jeep.

Larson’s Jeep had become stuck the day before, and when he got out of the vehicle, he fell. It had rained overnight, and he was wet and covered with flies and mud. Simonson drove him to a waiting ambulance. Larson was released from the hospital the following day.

“Donald thought he was going to die,” stated Lt. Matt Frericks in the release. Frericks supervises conservation officers in the northeastern portion of Minnesota. “He and his wife both believe that CO Simonson saved his life.”