Senator Jeff Howe (R-Rockville) today released the following statement in response to the passing of Conservation Officer Sarah Grell:
“My heartfelt condolences are with the family of Conservation Officer Sarah Grell, who died on Monday in a two-vehicle crash near Grand Rapids. Her loss is devastating, and my heart goes out to the Grell family. Please join me in praying for her family, friends, and colleagues at the DNR who are mourning her tragic loss during this difficult time.”
Conservation officers have protected Minnesota’s natural resources and people since 1887. Officer Grell is the 23rd Minnesota conservation officer to die in the line of duty. The last DNR Conservation Officer to die in the line of duty was 43-year-old Eugene Wynn in 2019, who was thrown from a boat in Pine City while responding to a call regarding a possible body in the water on Cross Lake.
Officer Grell served as a conservation officer since 2005 and had a deeply held dedication to helping Minnesota’s people and natural resources. She was part of a family legacy–her uncle, father, and grandfather also worked as conservation officers. Her husband Gene works for DNR’s Forestry Division, and her mother worked for DNR Fisheries until her retirement. She leaves behind a husband and three children.
