BECKER COUNTY, Minn. — Becker County Sheriff’s Office personnel and family members were honored this month after a March emergency response helped save the life of a 10-year-old boy, according to Detroit Lakes Tribune reporting.

The Tribune reported that the Becker County Board recognized the group on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, after Sheriff Todd Glander described a March 19 call involving a 10-year-old boy who was not breathing.

According to the report, Becker County Communications Officers Taylor Hillukka and Elizabeth Schoon were on duty that evening. Hillukka answered the 911 call while Schoon began dispatching deputies, ambulance crews and emergency responders.

The call was transferred to North Memorial hospital in Robbinsdale for pre-arrival emergency medical dispatching, where professionals guided the family through CPR and other emergency steps, the Tribune reported. Hillukka remained on the line and continued updating responders on locations and estimated arrival times.

Responders took over CPR at the scene

Sheriff’s Sgt. Ryan Aho and Communications Supervisor Jacob Karasch were the first to arrive, with Deputy Blake Olson arriving shortly after, according to the report.

The Tribune reported that Aho, Karasch and Olson took over CPR, while Sgt. Bachmann and Deputies Adam Winter, Ethan Wothe and Derek Hanson assisted. After continued CPR and several shocks from an AED, the boy’s heart began beating again, though he remained in critical condition at that point, according to the same report.

The story is a reminder that lifesaving public safety work often starts before a patrol car or ambulance reaches the driveway: a dispatcher keeping the line steady, family members following instructions, and deputies arriving ready to take over when seconds matter.

Why this recognition matters

For the Becker County Sheriff’s Office, the May 19 recognition put names to a coordinated response that involved communications officers, supervisors, deputies, emergency medical guidance and family members all working through a terrifying moment.

ThinBlueNews is not naming the child beyond the details already made public by the source report; the focus here is on the public-safety response and the personnel recognized for their actions.

Sources and attribution