DNR officer earns recognition

One of the region’s conservation officers with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has been honored by the Minnesota Association of Women Police.

Julie Siems, recently promoted to second lieutenant and appointed a water resource enforcement officer by the DNR, was serving in Rice County when she was nominated for the award by Lee Sjolander, chief of the Kenyon Police Department.

"Living and working in a small city brings a lot of challenges, one being having back-up while responding to calls for service," Sjolander said. "Since I became chief in 2007, Officer Siems has assisted on everything from business alarms to domestics. She is always willing to help and is always very professional."

Siems was based in nearby Faribault. She has been a key asset to the Kenyon Police Department by taking the time out of her busy schedule to answer questions from the public about hunting, fishing and ATV laws, he noted.

Siems, who joined DNR in 2004, is among the agency's 17 female conservation officers. Three more women are among the nine recruits attending the Conservation Officer Academy at Camp Ripley.

Tags: lifestyle, outdoors, minnesota