2016 National Conservation Law Enforcement Leadership Academy Class Selected

The NACLEC Leadership Academy Steering Team has selected the participants for the 2016 Leadership Academy.  The following 36 participants from 31 different states across the country are scheduled to participate in the Academy, which is held at the National Conservation Training Center:   

Chris Lewis, Major, Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
Gerald Tucker, Lieutenant, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Joshua Hurst, Lieutenant, Arizona Game and Fish Department
Nathaniel Arnold, Captain, California Fish and Wildlife
Francis McGee, Area Wildlife Manager, Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Eric Lundin, Captain, Connecticut Environmental Conservation Police
Douglas Messeck, Captain, Delaware Natural Resources Police
Brian Smith, Major, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
Percy Griffin III, Major, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
Thomas Bernard, Major, Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Christopher Wright, Assistant Chief, Idaho Fish and Game
David Dungan, Captain, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Dan Hesket, Major, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism
William Gormely, Lieutenant, Maine Warden Service
Robert Kersey, Captain, Maryland Natural Resources Police
Wade Hamilton, Captain, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Greg Salo, Major, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Scott Rice, District Supervisor, Missouri Department of Conservation
Russell Duckworth, District Supervisor, Missouri Department of Conservation
Scott Winkelman, Investigations Supervisor, North Dakota Game and Fish
Ty Jackson, Captain, New Mexico Game and Fish
Thomas Caifa, Captain, New York Department of Environmental Conservation
Leighland Arehart, District Supervisor, Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Raymond Farrar, Lieutenant, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Jason DeCoskey, Division Chief, Pennsylvania Wildlife Conservation
Jeff Carey, Major, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Dentis Riley, Lieutenant, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Shelly Hammonds, Lieutenant, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Brian Elkins, Captain, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Mike Mitchell, Lieutenant, Texas Parks and Wildlife
Chad Jones, Captain, Texas Parks and Wildlife
Scott Daleabout, Lieutenant, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
George Scribner, Major, Vermont Fish and Wildlife
Dan Chadwick, Captain, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
April Dombrowski, Captain, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Alan Osterland, Regional Wildlife Supervisor, Wyoming Fish and Game

Minnesota Recognizes Conservation Officers For Outstanding Performance

Six conservation officers with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources were honored at Camp Ripley, Tuesday, Feb. 2, for outstanding performance and service in 2015. 

The DNR named Conservation Officer Jeff Johanson of Osakis Officer of the Year. This prestigious award is presented annually to an officer based upon overall career performance with emphasis on the officer’s previous job evaluation period.

“Officer Johanson understands the importance of maintaining the balance in today’s conservation law enforcement, as we strive to gain voluntary compliance through education, outreach, and enforcement,” said Col. Rodmen Smith, DNR Enforcement Division director. “He has proven that he can successfully manage sensitive issues between stakeholders and the DNR.”  

A conservation officer since 2001, Johanson has always stepped up to take on special duties and extra projects. 

He is a field training officer, use of force instructor, Glock armorer, as well as a member of the Enforcement Division’s equipment and uniform committees. He also recently served as the Conservation Officer Academy coordinator.

Other honors included:
Conservation Officer Phil George of Rochester was recipient of the Education Achievement Award. The award recognizes an officer based on overall career performance with emphasis on involvement in the division’s education programs; support and involvement with volunteer instructors; and educational efforts through the media and special presentations.

“His knowledge and ability to teach people proper safety education assures that our outdoor enthusiasts – kids and adults – know the laws, ethics and responsibilities of safe hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation,” Smith said.

Conservation Officer Tony Salzer of Ham Lake received the Waterfowl Enforcement Achievement Award. The annual award is presented to a conservation officer dedicated to protecting Minnesota’s natural resources, serving the public and preserving our waterfowl heritage.

 “His outreach and educational efforts include spending extra time during firearms safety training discussing the importance of waterfowl identification, along with teaching an outdoor adventure class at a local school district where waterfowl is a center point,” Smith said.

Water Resource Enforcement Officer Larry Hanson accepted the Willard Munger Wetland Achievement Award. The award is named after the long-time legislator who died in 1999 leaving a 43-year legacy of environmental activism to the people of Minnesota.

Conservation Officer Chad Thesing of Albany earned the Boat and Water Safety Achievement Award. The honor is based on demonstrated leadership abilities and outstanding achievements in boating safety education, boating while intoxicated enforcement, and service to other law enforcement agencies.

The Meritorious Service Award was presented to Conservation Officer David Schottenbauer of Silver Bay who served as Conservation Officer Academy director from 2011 to 2014.

The DNR’s Enforcement Division employs about 186 licensed peace officers responsible for recreational law enforcement and protecting the natural resources of Minnesota. The division has its headquarters in St. Paul where it operates 18 law enforcement districts throughout the state.

Maine Department of Marine Resources hosted visitors from the People’s Republic of China’s State Oceanic Administration

Maine Marine Patrol Colonel Jon Cornish, NACLEC Leadership Academy Cohort 1 graduate, was among those welcoming the Chinese delegation.  As part of the U.S. Department of State’s International Leadership Program, the Maine Department of Marine Resources hosted visitors from the People’s Republic of China’s State Oceanic Administration on Thursday, January 28, 2016. The visitors included Ms. Danhong Chen with the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration.
(3rd from right), Mr. Jilu Wu with the China Institute for Marine Affairs (2nd from right), and Mr. Antao Wang with the Department of International Cooperation
(far right). Discussing Maine and U.S. fisheries enforcement were (left to right) U.S. Coast Guard Lieutenant J.G. Pierre Spence, Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher, NOAA Supervisory Enforcement Officer Eric Provencher, U.S. Coast Guard Commander Jamie Frederick, and Maine Marine Patrol Colonel Jon Cornish.

California and Louisiana Men Charged in Smuggling of Protected Turtles to China

Men from California and Louisiana are accused in court records of smuggling protected turtles to China.  Raymond Chiu, 72, of Foster City, California, and Eric Cottrell, 44, of Minden, Louisiana, are scheduled for arraignment Tuesday in federal district court in New Orleans, the online court documents show.

Judge Ivan Lemelle set Chiu's bond at $300,000 and Cottrell's at $25,000. Both are charged with smuggling, with transporting or acquiring wildlife for illegal uses, and with conspiracy to do so.

Read the story here

Editorial: A Job Well Done - Arkansas Director Mike Knoedl Retiring

There's a good reason why so many people in Arkansas think the state's Game and Fish Commission will bring back the bobwhite quail. Because the state's Game and Fish Commission is good at that sort of thing.

The director of the Game and Fish Commission, one Mike Knoedl, says he's going to retire. His term will expire in July, along with everybody's hunting licenses. The opinion of most in the know is that Mike Knoedl was one of the good ones. And government can use all the good ones it can get.

Read the editorial here