Red Lake Conservation Officer dies on duty

Red Lake, Minn. (Valley News Live) The Red Lake Police Department, family and friends are mourning the loss of a conservation officer who died while responding to a call.

48-year-old Shannon "Opie" Barron was responding to a call for illegal harvesting north of Red Lake Sunday night. Once he cleared the call, he requested an EMS because he wasn't feeling well.

Officers on scene immediately performed life-saving measures and took him to the hospital where he died.

His body was taken to the Ramsey County Coroner's office to determine cause of death.

Officer Barron started his career with the Red Lake Department of Public Safety in March of 2000 as a Conservation Officer. He graduated from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Indian Police Academy) in Artesia, NM and served in the Red Lake Department of Public Safety as a Conservation Officer for 19 years.

He leaves behind his wife, two children, an aunt who raised him and numerous relatives. Funeral arrangements and services will be announced at a later date.