Sartell Police Officer Dies Due To Complications From Surgery

SARTELL - A Sartell police officer has died, due to complications from surgery.  Officer Joe Schmitz died yesterday (Thursday) afternoon.

The family's CaringBridge website says Schmitz died Thursday from complications of surgery a week before to repair a bulging disc in his neck.

Police Chief Jim Hughes says "Joe was an outstanding officer for the Sartell Police Department."

Schmitz has been with the Sartell Department since 2012, prior to that he worked in the Paynesville Department for 19 years, and also part-time with the Cold Spring-Richmond Department.

There is an account set up for Schmitz at the Central Minnesota Credit Union branches at "Joe Schmitz 7907". Schmitz is survived by his wife Stacy, and their four-year-old son.