Emergency Services in Cook, Minnesota (2025)
Ambulance Service
Current Personnel
- Medical Director
- Dr. Eric Elleby
- Ambulance Co-Directors
- Will Fischer
- Amy Luecken
- Administrative Assistant
- Karen Schultz
- EMS Team
- Matthew Carlson
- Marylou Ellison
- Roger Esterby
- Jennifer Knuth
- Tera Kultala
- Maija Maki
- Lois Pajari
- Hayden Picek
- Christina Rothleutner
- Angela Schultz
First Responders
- Jerry Leener
- Dan Reing
- Danny L. Reing
- Mackenzie Reing
- Ed Tausk
Past Members
Please contact us for other past members we do not have listed
- Chad Bergman (served until 2006)
- Penny Buckingham (served until 2010)
- Ruth Black
- Jim Boutto
- Bill Fischer (served until 2008)
- Char Fogelberg (served until 2006)
- Kelly Fogelberg
- Stuart Domitz
- Robin Ferguson
- Beth Hietala
- Cathi Hiveley
- Matt Hoffmann
- Frank Hyppa
- Margie Hyppa
- Mary Jorgenson (served until 1991)
- Bob Lagerquist (served until 2009)
- Darrel Lindgren
- David Leding
- Ken Leding (served until 1995)
- Myrna Storm Malm
- Cindy Matson (née Engle)
- Joann Miklovich
- Dennis Morreim
- Squeak McCue
- John Musech
- Dawn Nussear
- April Novak
- Bonnie Pajari
- Connie Pearson
- Gail Peterson
- Dennis Rinne (served until 2010)
- Mark Rinne
- Rodney Roberts
- Carol Romnes
- Brian Rosnau
- Reuben Rosnau
- Jack Schelde
- Rolland Shoen
- Don Simonson
- Duane Simonson (served until 2007)
- Donna Snyder
- Dalton Straw
- Rebecca Straw
- Jack Whiteside (served until 2002)
Ambulance Service History
Bill Lobe, the owner of Lobe Chevrolet Company, provided the first ambulance service in Cook. He repurposed an old Packard hearse as an ambulance. At that time, no formal training was required, and whoever was available would assist. The patient would be placed in the back of the vehicle and rushed to Dr. Heiam’s hospital.
When the Cook Hospital opened in 1959, Ken Leding started his ambulance service with a new Ford station wagon. This vehicle was also used to transport bodies to the mortuary he was affiliated with. In 1964, Ken purchased a Cadillac ambulance, which he used until the end of 1969, when he closed his service.
By 1970, the Cook Fire Department began operating a rented ambulance with the hospital staff’s support. In June 1970, a new Chevrolet Suburban was delivered, costing $8,500. In 1978, the department received its first modular ambulance, which cost $30,000.
Police Department
The Last Department Members
- Albert Hietala, Chief
- Joined the department on January 16, 1988
- Retired on May 30, 2008
- Daniel Nylund
- Joined the department on March 16, 2006
- Served until the department closed on December 8, 2008
Police Commission Members
- Al Vogt
- Arlee Olson
- Don Simonson
- Richard Buckingham
- Harold Johnston
- Dan Manick
Police Department Closure
The Cook Police Department was closed on December 8, 2008, due to financial constraints. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department now provides law enforcement services to Cook.
Past Police Department Members
- Bert Frazee (served 1937–1938)
- Pat Clune
- Sanford Johnson
- Dick Hanson (joined in 1948, served until 1960)
- Floyd Mann
- Richard Harding (served until 1960)
- Arnold Simonson (served until 1966)
- Ted Beatty Sr. (served as interim until 1960)
- David Angier (served until 1973)
- Ray Kelm (served as Chief from July 1, 1975, until 1979)
- Larry Pocrnich (served until 1978)
- Tom Whitebird (served until 1980)
- Joe Barnett (served until 1980)
- Bruce Teman (served until 1984)
- Ron Silcox (served until 1984)
- Phil Christensen (served until 1990)
- Frank Downs (served until 1985)
- Randy Kertock (served until 1987)
- Albert Hietala (served from 1988 to 2008)
- Mike Pasch (served from 1991 to 1999)
- David Cowlishaw (served from 1999 to 2000)
- Kevin Sheffer (served from 2000 to 2002)
- Jeremy Belleville (served from 2002 to 2006)
- Daniel Nylund (served from 2006 to 2008)
Rescue Squad
Current Members (2025)
- Lieutenant: Paul Stevens (Hibbing)
- Lieutenant: Derk VerSteeg (Chisholm)
- Lieutenant: Larry Herzog (Mt. Iron)
- Sergeant: Tim Mankowski (Cook)
- Sergeant: Scott Holter (Chisholm)
- Sergeant: Mike Servaty (Hoyt Lakes)
- Sergeant: Warren Marolt (Virginia)
- Secretary: Sue Haupt (Chisholm)
- Treasurer: Jan Makowski (Virginia)
- Members:
- LeRoy Aho (Babbitt)
- Zack Aune (Angora)
- Melvin Bakk (Cook)
- Scott Hildreth (Embarrass)
- Sam Hyppa (Cook)
- Kristian Jankofsky (Britt)
- Arne Johnson (Cook)
- Shane Johnson (Cook)
- Clyde Koskela (Cook)
- Trent McDowell (Babbitt)
- Tom McKenney (Hibbing)
- Dan Peliska (Mt. Iron)
- Dan Theel (Babbitt)
Past Members
- Bob Carver
- Frank Hyppa
- Ken Leding
- Pat Mathais
- Don Price
- Dennis Rinne
- Don Simonson
- Stanley Thomson
Sheriff’s Department
Current Leadership
- Sheriff: Pat Eliasen
- Chief Deputy: Leif Lunde
Past Deputies
- Adolph Johnson (served until 1957, died July 7, 1985)
- Henry “Hank” Saari (died December 21, 1963)
- Jack Ronald Allen (served from May 17, 1956)
- Glen Van Schyndel (served until May 1, 1960)
- Don Koski (served from May 1, 1960)
- Dick Floyd (retired July 31, 1979, died January 27, 1984)
- Chuck Bergquist (served until 1986, transferred to Duluth)
- Richard “Buck” Buckingham (served until 2001, retired June 30, 2001)
- David Quiser (served until retirement)
- Scott Lundgren (served until March 9, 2001, retired)
- Duane Nelson (served until June 2008, retired from Britt)