Governor Walz orders flags at half staff for Red Lake conservation officer

ST. PAUL– Governor Walz is ordering flags to be flown at half-staff today in honor and remembrance of Red Lake Conservation Officer Shannon Barron. 

Forty-eight-year-old Barron died Sunday night of a medical emergency while investigating suspected illegal harvesting near Highway 89. 

DNR Enforcement Director Colonel Rodmen Smith says Barron proudly served the Red Lake Nation for 19 years, working tirelessly to protect not just its natural resources, but also its people. 

Barron leaves behind a wife, two children and, the aunt who raised him. An overnight wake began yesterday afternoon and will continue until the funeral today at 2. 


Larissa Donovan was the News Director for the stations of Paul Bunyan Broadcasting and has been, almost without interruption, since Election Day 2016, through July 2023. She covered all the beats in north-central Minnesota, such as local government, crime, education, environment and social issues. She studied communications at Bemidji State University. You can follow along with Larissa's live tweets of meetings and events on Twitter!


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