Weekly CO Report

[Lee Borgersen]

                Weekly CO Report
   

District 9 - Brainerd area

CO Patrick McGowan (Pine River) patrolled Cass and Crow Wing County lakes for boating activity. CO McGowan also worked a detail with other officers on the St. Croix River. Enforcement action was taken for illegal boat exhaust, watercraft registration issues, wake violations, and angling without a license.


CO Tim Collette (Crosslake) patrolled area lakes where recreational boating traffic continues to be heavy and anglers were seeing pan fish and a few walleyes in the bag. The officer also responded to calls of an injured woodchuck that wouldn't leave the callers yard, a deer from a deer farm that had escaped but was caught again the next day, a person who twice ran full speed through a flock of geese with his boat, and had a couple of minors caught drinking alcohol jump in the lake and swim away, after they had given their IDs to the officer, escalating a minor in possession of alcohol charge to fleeing a peace officer.


CO Sam Hunter (Park Rapids) checked ATV's, fishermen, and boaters. Officer Hunter received a call of an injured Merlin (raptor). The bird was successfully captured and was transported to the Raptor Center in St. Paul. Officer Hunter also investigated an aquatic vegetation complaint.


CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) worked angling, watercraft, AIS, and ATV activity. Several illegal aquatic vegetation removal and lakebed alteration cases were started.


CO Karl Hadrits (Crosby) reports activity this week of patrolling fishing, boating, and aquatic vegetation removal activities on area lakes, the Cuyuna Country State Recreational Area, and responding to miscellaneous nuisance and injured wildlife issues. Vandalism and theft of signs was investigated in the rec area, several cases of illegal use of hydro blasters and weed rollers were documented, and other enforcement contacts were made for state recreational area use violations and no trout stamp.


CO Amber Ladd (McGregor) spent time on the water working boaters and anglers. Several contacts were made and the most common violation this week included anglers fishing without a license. Several of them were people up at a friend's place with no intention to fish until they were there. Fishing licenses can be purchased online, 72 hour licenses are also available. CO Ladd also attended training at Camp Ripley, taught at a Firearm Safety Class, and patrolled some ATV problem areas.

District 10 - Mille Lacs area

CO Gregory Verkuilen (Garrison) checked lake activity as water temps and recreation start to peak for the year. A lot of non-resident vacationers are in the area and several have questions regarding AIS rules, Mille Lacs regulations, ATV laws, etc. CO Verkuilen addressed complaints regarding use of Wildlife Management Areas and ATV traffic.


CO Scott Fitzgerald (Malmo) reports checking fishermen and boaters out on Mille Lacs Lake. Most were catching a few bass and muskie and some were just out pleasure boating with the nice weather. A ride along opportunity was given to a party who had an interest in becoming a conservation officer and many outdoor related questions were fielded throughout the week and weekend. ATV activity was monitored on state land and surrounding county land and State Forest areas were patrolled for illegal dumping. Time was spent on AIS enforcement throughout the Malmo station and assistance was given to a neighboring officer on an illegal ATV activity on state land case.