Current EMT members

(Emergency Medical Technician)

licensed by the State

Dr. Bruce Garbisch,

Medical Director

Past Members of the Ambulance Squad

One of the first Ambulance Services in Cook was provided by Bill Lobe, owner of Lobe Chevrolet Company.  He had taken in an old Packard hearse on trade. He made this vehicle available to be used as an ambulance. No training, who ever was available headed down the road, threw the patient in the back and raced back to Dr Heiam's hospital.

1959, 26 October, when the Cook Hospital opened Ken Leding started his ambulance service with a new 1959 Ford station wagon.  He also used this rig to haul bodies to the mortuary that he was affiliated with. 1964, Ken bought a nice 1959 Cadillac ambulance from the North Saint Paul Fire Department.  He ran this until the last day of 1969 when he closed down  the business.

1970, the Cook Fire Department with help from the hospital staff operated a rented ambulance from the Gold Cross Department in Duluth.  This spring a number of people took training. 

1970, 15 June, a new 1970 Chevrolet Suburban  was delivered to the Fire Department, it cost $8,500

Albert Hietala, Chief, joined the department, 16 Jan 1988, retired 30 May 2008

Daniel Nylund, joined the Department; 16 Mar 2006

 

Police Commission members   Al Vogt, Arlee Olson, Don Simonson, Richard Buckingham, Harold Johnston, Dan Manick

1937-1938, Bert Frazee, died in 1982

1937-1938, Pat Clune

                   Sanford Johnson, died in 1977

1948, 10 Oct., Dick Hanson

                   Floyd Mann, died in 1984

1956, 11 Jun., Richard Harding until Sep 1960. His first squad car was his

          1949 Cadillac. He later bought a new 1957 Plymouth, remember the

          high tail fins, this was truly an unmarked car. Richard stopped Johnnie 

          Cash for speeding through Cook in 1959.

          The young fellows around town called him "Wyatt Earp". 

1959, 01 Aug,  Arnold Simonson, he retired on 15 Apr 1966, died 22 Jan 1999.

          Ted Beatty Sr. interim 1960, died in 1962, he used his 1949 Plymouth 

          for the squad car

1966, 16 Apr.  David Angier. Used a new black Chevrolet el Camino with a 

           396 engine for a squad car.  First to be called a  Police officer, when 

           the Village became a City, others were known as Marshals. First to 

           wear a uniform. First to attend mandatory schooling classes. David 

           later became a St. Louis County Deputy and served at Lake

           Kabetogema for the summer then a deputy at Nett Lake for 10 months.                                 

1973, 01 Jul, Ray Kelm,  named the Chief on 1 Jul 1975, Ray retired on 30 

          Jun 1979. City bought their first squad car, it was a used County squad 

          car,  03 Jun 1974. Kelm's deputies,  Mike Duame, Gary Martinson, 

          Jim Boutto, Stanley Pearson, David Peterka, Don Fultz, Duane Milbrett

          & Tom Whitebird 

1977, 02 May, Larry Pocrnich, he married Vickie Evans of 

          Cook while working here. First full time second police officer, he left

          on  01 Aug 1978     

1979, 10 Apr, Tom Whitebird, left to serve with the Eveleth Police Department, 

               he left on 8 Jan 1980.

1980, 20 Feb.  Joe Barnett,  Gary Martinson & Jim Boutto as his deputies.                           

1980, 10 Sep. Russ Carlson, he left on 17 Sep 1980.

1980, 13 Nov.  Bruce Teman,  he left for the Virginia PD on 1 Aug 1984.

1984, 01 Jul,  Ron Silcox,  he left on 11 Sep 1984 to serve on the Eveleth PD, 

           he is now a Minnesota State Patrol officer in this area.

1984, 16 Aug,  Phil Christensen, he retired in 1990.

1984, 20 Sep, Frank Downs, he left on Christmas Day 1985 during his term 

           the City of Cook bought its first new squad car, a 1985 Chevrolet Impala

           from the Simonson Chevrolet dealership.

1986, 16 Jun.  Randy Kertock, he left on 19 Nov 1987.

1988, 16 Jan, Albert Hietala, still serving the City. He is the longest serving, retired on May 30, 2008

1991, 11 Mar, Mike Pasch, he left on 1 Oct 1999.

1999, 04 Oct, David Cowlishaw, he left on 31 Mar 2000

2000, 01 Aug, Kevin Sheffer, left on April 15 2002 to join the National 

          Park Service at the Teddy Roosevelt Park in North Dakota. Now at Crane Lake.

2002, 16 Jul, Jeremy Belleville, left on 02 Jan 2006 for the St. Louis County Sheriff's Department.

2006, 16 Mar, Daniel Nylund, started

Rescue Squad
Northern St Louis County Rescue Squad.
Founded 29 March 1970
Current members of the Squad

Bob Carver
Frank Hyppa
Leding, Ken
Pat Mathais
Don Price
Don Simonson

Stanley Thomson

976, 01 Mar. Tim Harkonen, promoted to Lieutenant, Hibbing office
2000, May,     Greg Landgren, Orr, now assigned to Hibbing area

2000, May,     Rich McCauly is working the Summer-time at Kabetogoma, also around Cook

2001, 15 Mar, Aaron Nevala, his area is north of Cook

2002, 21 Jan,  John Barrett, Cook area, also serving in the National Guard

2002, 21 Jan,  Jason Akerson, Cook area

 1930-1957,    Adolph Johnson retired 1957, died 07 Jul 1985
                        Henry "Hank" Saari. died 21 Dec 1963
1956, 17 May. Jack Ronald Allen 49 assigned to Cook to work with Deputy Adolph Johnson
                        Glen Van Schyndel left for Hibbing post, 1 May 1960
1960, 01 May. Don Koski
1957,               Dick Floyd, retired 31 Jul 1979,  died 27 Jan 1984
1979, 31 Jul,    Chuck Bergquist, transferred to Duluth in 1986 to serve as the 

                           Supervising Deputy under the Sheriff.

1984, 30 Aug.  Richard "Buck" Buckingham, Cook, retired 30 Jun 2001
....................... David Quiser, Cook, now out of the Virginia office serving Civil process

1977, 22 Sep.  Scott Lundgren, Orr, retired 9 Mar 2001

1980, 01 Jul.    Duane Nelson, Britt, with the Breitung twp Police Dept  from 01 Jun 1978. Retired in 2008