DNR Wardens, Civilian Staff Honored For Heroic Acts Of Public Service

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that state officials recently lauded 16 DNR conservation wardens and one division staffer for lifesaving and heroic actions.

Family and friends joined Gov. Tony Evers, DNR assistant secretary Mark Aquino and DNR chief conservation warden Casey Krueger for the Jan. 10 Lifesaving, Valor & Meritorious Awards Ceremony at the Wisconsin State Capitol.

“The work of our conservation wardens affects the lives of folks across our state every day, from preserving and protecting our vital natural resources to showing up when Wisconsinites need them during an emergency,” said Gov. Evers. “I’m glad to be recognizing this important work making Wisconsin a safer, healthier and more vibrant place to live for all who call our great state home.”

“The recipients provide public service with great pride and when called upon,” said  Casey Krueger, DNR chief conservation warden, “they answered the call without pause or hesitation, often risking their own safety and wellbeing to help another.”

The awards presented were selected by the DNR Division of Public Safety and Resource Protection’s special awards committee, which includes sworn officers and civilian division staff. Division staff submit nominations and the recipients were selected based upon these requirements:

Criteria For A Valor Award

• The employee was presented with a situation that was extremely dangerous: at the time the employee acted, there existed a strong possibility that injury or death to the employee could have occurred. The act of bravery or courage was beyond the call of duty.

Criteria For A Lifesaving Award

• The employee performed an act that was intended to save a person’s life.
• It appeared at the time that the person in jeopardy would not have a chance of survival without the employee’s actions or assistance.

Criteria For A Meritorious Service Award

• The employee exceeded expectations of those typically expected of a first responder by taking courageous action despite the high risk of a serious but survivable injury.
• Alternatively, the employee performed a highly creditable act of achievement of service deserving merit.

The wardens honored at the ceremony are:

Valor Awards

• Warden Bob Jumbeck of the Mississippi River Warden Team: In May 2024, he enlisted the assistance of a citizen and their boat to rescue an intoxicated operator in a trapped vessel on the treacherous upriver side of the U.S. Army Corps Lock and Dam 4 on the Mississippi River in Buffalo County.

• Former Warden Alek Henseler: Was handling a UTV traffic violation in Forest County in July 2022 when a second UTV operator physically attacked the warden, nearly taking the warden’s life. Forced to use his firearm to save his life, Henseler shot and injured his attacker and then rendered first aid to the attacker, who survived.

Lifesaving Awards

• Warden Jacob Cross of the Antigo Warden Team: Rescued two individuals caught in dangerous situations following two vehicle accidents involving fires and live power lines. The accidents occurred in Langlade County – the first in March 2023 and the second in May 2024.
• Lt. Warden Bryan Lockman and Warden Kyle Ziembo, both of the Wisconsin River Warden Team: In May 2024, they responded quickly to a rural Marathon County home and provided effective CPR and AED treatment to a man who suffered a massive heart attack. The man survived.
• Program Specialist Logan Planer of the Recreational Safety R3 Program: In June 2024, he performed the Heimlich maneuver to break free lodged food in a co-worker’s throat at the DNR Darwin Rd. warehouse in Madison.
• Warden Joe McMahon of the Lower St. Croix County Warden Team: Joined a Pierce County Sheriff’s Department deputy to remove a large, heavy structure off a man who was unconscious but breathing. The man survived.
• Warden Al Erickson of the Dodgeville Warden Team: In May 2023, he saved a man’s life in rural Iowa County by expertly placing a tourniquet to stop the massive blood loss after the man cut his arm while using yard equipment.
• Warden Tom Heisler of the Park Falls Warden Team: In May 2023, used his extensive knowledge of the Flambeau River’s remote areas in Sawyer County to find a man who was near death after flipping his canoe days before. Warden Heisler found the man in very tough shape but alive after struggling for days.
• Warden Benjamin Gruber of the Devil’s Lake State Park Warden Team: In October 2023, he teamed with a village of Arena local police officer to save an Iowa County woman’s life who was not breathing and had no pulse. Warden Gruber responded to assist in performing CPR and utilizing the police department’s AED.
• Warden Nick Al-Moghrabi of the Park Falls Warden Team: Was on patrol in June 2024 when the Bayfield County Sheriff’s Office issued a call of CPR in progress at a nearby residence. Warden Al-Moghrabi responded and used his AED on the 47-year-old male patient and coached another person to assist with chest compressions. The man survived.
• Warden Brad Latza of the Wautoma Warden Team and Investigative Warden John Schreiber: During the 2022 gun-deer season, they responded to a call of a gunshot victim in Green Lake County. The wardens applied seals in the wound and performed CPR, which they continued until emergency medical team members arrived. Unfortunately, the victim succumbed to their wounds.

Meritorious Awards

• Jennifer Burrow-Niemeyer, Lt. Andrew Starch and Marine Wardens Adam Strehlow and Travis Sindles: Were on the water in September 2024 when they learned from area agencies of a nearby capsized boat and the operator, sought by agencies for alleged crimes, was in the water and believed armed. The wardens carefully approached the individual, assessed the situation, and pulled him to the warden boat for transport to shore and the agencies

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.