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A Minnesota police sergeant and father of two died less than 24 hours after doctors diagnosed him with a brain infection, leaving behind a young family and a stunned community.
Sergeant. Cody Siebert, a K9 officer with the East Range Police Department, died on February 27, the department announced. He was remembered as a devoted father, a loyal colleague and a fixture in the small northern Minnesota community he served.
Siebert helped launch the K9 program in Babbitt, Minnesota, along with his police dog, Taconite, before joining the East Range Police Department.
“Sergeant Siebert was well known for his happy-go-lucky personality,” the department wrote in a tribute on Facebook. “The best thing was to say that if you didn’t get along with Cody, it was your fault.”
Sergeant. Cody Siebert is remembered by colleagues and community members as a dedicated officer and devoted father who left a lasting impact on northern Minnesota. (East Range Police Department)
“The void left by the passing of Sergeant Siebert will be impossible to fill,” the department added.
A GoFundMe page launched by Siebert’s family has raised more than $107,000 as of Tuesday night. He is survived by his life partner, Karen Blais, and his two children, ages 1 and 2.
“To know Cody was to have a friend. He had a rare gift for connection: if you crossed paths with him, you knew you were in for a genuine conversation. He truly enjoyed people and his absence leaves a void in our community that many will feel,” his family wrote on the fundraising page.
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Sergeant. Cody Siebert, a K9 officer with the East Range Police Department in Minnesota, died on February 27, less than 24 hours after he was diagnosed with a brain infection. (East Range Police Department)
Blais told the Minnesota Star Tribune that Siebert woke up last week with a headache that had started the day before. He was hospitalized and doctors determined that an infection in his nasal passages had spread to his brain, according to the newspaper.
“He loved people: being in that position and being able to help people in general,” his brother Brandon Siebert told the outlet. “Not just catching bad guys, going to school, talking to people.”
The tragedy occurs just months after another loss in the extended family. According to the Star Tribune, Siebert’s sister-in-law, Alyssa Siebert, died last October from a brain aneurysm.
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Sergeant. Cody Siebert poses with his K9 partner, Taconite, and Chief Tim Soular. (East Range Police Department)
“We are in a déjà vu of an unusual situation,” said his other sister-in-law, Ashley Siebert. “They both helped others all the time. They were both great people. They’ve done more than most 30-year-olds have accomplished in their lives.”
Like his sister-in-law, Siebert donated his organs, the newspaper reported.
The East Range Police Department in Minnesota announced the unexpected death of Sgt. Cody Siebert on February 27. (East Range Police Department)
Mesabi East Schools also paid tribute, remembering Siebert as someone who saw potential in every student.
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“The impact he had on our students and staff cannot be measured. He was not just our K9 officer, he was a mentor, a role model, a friend, and a constant, positive presence in our Giants community,” the school district wrote.
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