Georgia Major Steve Adams Graduates from National Conservation Leadership Academy

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. – The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Law Enforcement Division is pleased to announce that Major Stephen Adams recently graduated from the National Conservation Law Enforcement Leadership Academy (NCLELA) at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV.

“It is vitally important to have Rangers who provide effective, efficient and thorough conservation law enforcement. And, to accomplish this, you must have a Command Staff that is willing to seek out educational opportunities that will help them continue to provide solid management and leadership into the future,” said DNR Law Enforcement Division Director Col. Eddie Henderson.  “I commend Major Adams on his commitment to continuing education and I greatly appreciate his contribution to conservation law enforcement and to our Division.”
 
According to their web site, NCLELA prepares conservation law enforcement executives to successfully carry out the conservation law enforcement mission in a rapidly changing world. The NCLELA provides education on contemporary issues, trends, management and leadership skills and abilities needed by executive level conservation LE leaders in state and federal agencies.
 
During the training, Adams engaged in such topics as adaptive leadership, leading change, resource management, personnel management, shaping organizational culture, strategic planning, surviving and succeeding as an executive liability, establishing a leadership legacy, and more.
 
Maj. Adams is a 17-year veteran with GA DNR Law Enforcement.

Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Ranger Recognized for Life Saving Actions on I-95

At their meeting last week, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Board passed a resolution recognizing Law Enforcement Division Sergeant Chris Hodge from Camden County and presenting him with the DNR Life Saving Award for his actions after a serious car accident on I-95.

On the afternoon of August 17, 2015, Sgt. Hodge came upon the scene of a serious traffic accident on I-95 southbound near Gibson Creek in Glynn County. The driver of a black Mercedes was seriously injured, became unresponsive, and stopped breathing. Hodge quickly assessed the driver’s condition and began performing CPR. He was able to successfully resuscitate the driver, who was then transported to the hospital. Without his quick action and selfless act of compassion, the driver would have likely died at the scene. 
 
“Our Rangers are trained and equipped to handle any situation that may come their way,” said Georgia DNR Commissioner Mark Williams. “Without the quick response and actions of Sgt. Hodge, a woman could have lost her life.  I could not be more proud of Sgt. Hodge and thankful for the heroic work he and the other Rangers do each and every day.”
 
The DNR Life Saving Award is presented to DNR personnel whose actions save the life or lives of others who may not have survived otherwise. The Award was presented at the Georgia DNR Commissioner’s Office in Atlanta.

“I am very proud of Sgt. Hodge and his actions. If he had not been there, kept calm, and let his experience and training kick in, it could have been a very tragic day” said DNR Col. Eddie Henderson, director of Law Enforcement. Chris is a top-notch Ranger and I’m sure the citizens in southeast Georgia are glad to have him there. He has proven through the years that he is committed to do whatever it takes to ensure public safety.”
 
The resolution reads in part, “…the Board of Natural Resources hereby commends Sergeant Chris Hodge for his heroic lifesaving effort by performing CPR to a seriously injured person involved in an automobile accident in order to preserve human life.”
 
Sgt. Chris Hodge supervises a work unit that covers Brantley, Camden and Glynn counties and has been with DNR Law Enforcement for 14 years.       

Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission Law Enforcement Report for Mid- October

See the report here

Maine Warden Service Announces Locating Skeletal Remains of AT Hiker Missing for Two Years

[Augusta, Maine – Friday, October 16, 2015] The Maine Warden Service believes that skeletal remains discovered in Redington Township are likely those of missing hiker Geraldine Largay missing since July 22, 2013. Positive identification will be determined in the coming weeks by the Medical Examiner’s Office, however, due to the location of the remains and evidence gathered at the scene the Maine Warden Service feels confident that Geraldine has now been located.
 
The remains were found Wednesday morning October 14 by a contractor conducting a forestry survey as part of an environmental impact statement on property owned by the US Navy in Redington Township. The contractor reported his findings to the Navy who subsequently alerted the Maine Warden Service. Personnel to include game wardens, State Police detectives, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) special agents, and a Medical Examiner’s Office representative hiked to the scene of the remains yesterday morning.
 
The scene included skeletal remains and several pieces of clothing and belongings consistent with items known to be in Largay’s possession. The remains were located west of the Maine Public Reserve Land that contains a portion of the Appalachian Trail (AT) and about 3,500 feet east of the easterly shore of Redington Pond (see accompanying topographic map). The remains will be examined to determine the cause of death although investigators do not believe foul play is involved at this time.
 
These findings will bring closure to one of Maine’s most unique and challenging search and rescue incidents. Geraldine “Gerry” Anita Largay, age 66, started her hike on the AT in April of 2013 at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia; her trail name was “inchworm.” Her destination was Baxter State Park in Maine. Her husband George kept track of her along the way and made frequent pre-determined stops to resupply her.
 
On the morning of Sunday, July 21, 2013 she departed from her husband at the Route 4 AT crossing in Sandy River Plantation near the town of Rangeley. Later that day she texted her husband and advised she was on top of Saddleback Mountain. Geraldine was last seen on the early morning of July 22 at Poplar Lean-to on the Appalachian Trail (AT) in Maine. The attached photo of Geraldine was taken July 22 at Poplar Lean-to and is the last known photo of her. She was planning to hike that day to Spaulding Lean-to in Redington Township, approximately eight miles to the north.
 
The following day, July 23, she had planned to continue hiking north from Spaulding Lean-to located in Mount Abram Township to meet her husband who was waiting for her at the Route 27 crossing. Geraldine never arrived at that location. Until yesterday, search efforts yielded no clues that could be attributed to Largay.

Georgia Governor Deal Designates “Ranger Hotline Day” - "Day in the Life of a Ranger" Social Media Event Held

SOCIAL CIRCLE, GA – Governor Nathan Deal signed a proclamation designating October 17, 2015, opening day of firearms season for deer, as “Ranger Hotline Day.” Ranger Hotline provides an avenue for citizens to report, anonymously if they choose, illegal hunting activity. If their tip leads to an arrest, they are eligible for a reward, courtesy of the Georgia Natural Resources Foundation, a 501c3 organization.
 
“With the Ranger Hotline Program, we are enlisting all the citizens of Georgia to help stop illegal hunting activities,” said Col. Eddie Henderson, director of DNR’s Law Enforcement Division. “If someone sees a poacher, or anything they think is an illegal hunting activity, they should call the hotline number, 1-800-241-4113 or send an email to RangerHotline@dnr.state.ga.us and report it.”

Poaching is essentially stealing wildlife that belongs to all citizens and taking away their recreational opportunities, like hunting, fishing or wildlife watching.
 
If you see or learn of a violation, try to write down a description of the violator, a description of their vehicle, the location of the violation, and the type of violation. Then, simply call the Ranger Hotline. The program is housed in The Georgia Natural Resources Foundation and anyone who would like to make a tax-deductible donation to support this worthwhile program should visit http://gadnrle.org/node/2 or send an email to rangerhotline@dnr.state.ga.us.
 
“A Day in the Life”
On Saturday, GA DNR Law Enforcement’s social media event, "A Day in the Life" is back for 2015. Rangers from across the state will be sending pictures and information about what they encounter as a DNR Ranger on one of the busiest days of their year. They will also be reporting on how well hunters are faring in various parts of the state, and all of it will be posted on the Law Enforcement Division’s Facebook page   (https://www.facebook.com/gadnrle), and this year, to the Twitter (https://twitter.com/?lang=en) and Instagram (https://instagram.com/gadnrle) feeds as well. Different pictures and content will be posted to each account so everyone is encouraged to check them all out. Last year, “A Day in the Life” was one of the Division’s most popular events on Facebook and this year, with the addition of the other social media feeds, is expected be even bigger.