2017 National Conservation Law Enforcement Leadership Academy Class Selected

The 2017 cohort of the National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Conservation Law Enforcement Leadership Academy was selected at a meeting of the Academy Steering Team in South Carolina January 23-24, 2017.

The following people have been selected to participant as the 2017 academy at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV.: 

James, Simmons, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Captain
Luke Thompson, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Captain
Jennifer Ikemoto, CA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, Captain
William de Vergie, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Area Wildlife Manager
Keith Williams, CT Dept. of Energy & Env. Protection, Captain
Brian Pollock, Delaware Natural Resources Police, Lieutenant
Gregg Eason,  Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Major
Bob Lynn, Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division, Captain
Matthew O'Connell, Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game, Assistant Enforcement, Chief
Terry Hyndman, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Division, Lt. Colonel
Jason Sawyers, Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks, Captain
Kelley Johnson, Maryland Natural Resources Police, Captain
Kristen Barboza, Maine Warden Service, Sergeant
David Shaw, Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources, Lieutenant
Todd Kanieski, Minnesota DNR Enforcement Division, Major-Operations Manager
Ric Bishop, Missouri Department of Conservation, District Supervisor
Aaron Pondrom, Missouri Department of Conservation, Protection District Supervisor
Lee Anderson, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks,  Captain
Michael Eastman, New Hampshire Fish & Game Dept., Lieutenant
David Walsh, New Hampshire Fish & Game Dept., Lieutenant
Jason Snellbaker, New Jersey Div. of Fish & Wildlife, Captain
Andrew Gray, New Mexico Dept. of Game and Fish, Captain
Eric Provencher, NOAA-OLE (NMFS), Lieutenant
James Quinlivan, Ohio Div of Wildlife, DNR, LE Program Administrator
James Edwards, Jr., Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Lieutenant
Chad Eyler, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Chief - Special Permits Enf. Div.
Michael Thomas, South Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources, Lieutenant
Daniel McCaskill, South Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources, Captain
Dale Grandstaff, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Captain
Jason Huebner, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Lieutenant Game Warden
Lance May, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Lieutenant Game Warden
Francisco Solis, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Resident Agent in Charge
Justin Stedman, Vermont Fish and Wildlife, Lieutenant
Alan Myers, Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Captain
Joseph Frost, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources, Lieutenant
Brad Hovinga, Wyoming Game & Fish Dept., Regional Wildlife Supervisor

Congratulations to the class of 2017.

The purpose of the academy is to develop the institutional adaptive leadership capacity needed to effectively protect people, fish, wildlife, and natural resources in a rapidly changing world.  The National Conservation Law Enforcement Leadership Academy is made possible through a partnership between the National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service - Office of Law Enforcement.  The academy also has a 501 c 3 foundation set up to support the academy into the future.  To learn more about how you can help support the academy through the foundation, see the NACLEC Foundation website at http://www.naclec-foundation.org  

 

Connecticut Environmental Conservation Police Receive Narcan Training

Officers from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police are being trained to administer Naloxone Hydrochloride, commonly known as Narcan, to join the state’s effort to combat the tragedy of people losing their lives from overdosing on opioids, including street drugs such as heroin or prescription painkillers such as OxyContin.

“Our EnCon officers are pleased to join in the initiative to help combat the alarming growth of heroin and prescription drug abuse,” said Col. Kyle Overturf, the head of the EnCon police unit at DEEP.   “Our officers are positioned to play an active part in assisting people whose lives are threatened by a drug overdose.  You will find EnCon officers in action all across Connecticut, as we provide a law enforcement presence in state parks and on state lands as well as enforcing fish and game regulations.” 

See more here

Multiple Subjects Indicted for Wildlife Crimes in Ohio

On August 4, 2016, State Wildlife Officers from the ODNR Division of Wildlife served an arrest warrant on Robert Mandon Freeworth, 36, of Grand Rapids, Ohio. The arrest stems from a long-term investigation dubbed Operation North Coast that was closed March 2016 when more than 45 state wildlife officers and investigators executed search warrants and conducted interviews with dozens of subjects. 
Freeworth was indicted by a Wood County grand jury earlier this week on nine felony and seven misdemeanor counts. The felonies include: engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, sales of wildlife, having weapons under disability, improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle (3 counts), tampering with records (2 counts), and aggravated possession of drugs. Misdemeanors include: using weapons while intoxicated (2 counts), jacklighting, hunting without permission of the landowner, and wildlife violations (3 counts).
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Gwen Howe-Gebers from the Wood County Prosecutor’s office has been working with state wildlife investigators on the case. Howe-Gebers states, “The investigation was well executed and prepared which is a testament to the ODNR investigative unit in making sure rules and regulations are followed by all. The cases demonstrate that those who hunt illegally need to be held accountable for their actions.”
ODNR Division of Wildlife Law Enforcement Administrator Ken Fitz stated, “The indictment demonstrates the seriousness of wildlife crimes and commercialization that was taking place in the Wood County area.”
If convicted, Freeworth faces incarceration, fines, wildlife restitution, community control sanctions, re-imbursement for investigative cost and forfeiture of firearms and a vehicle.
Operation North Coast was initiated after the wildlife agency received multiple complaints from landowners, sportsmen and women, and the general public in reference to the illegal taking and sales of wildlife, including sportfish and deer, by subjects along Lake Erie. The case includes as many as 40 defendants throughout 10 counties. Many facets of the investigation continue.
Below is a summary of people who have been charged with crimes to date.
Dawn Large (42) Grand Rapids, OH: No hunting license, hunting without permission, hunting deer with aid of motor vehicle, shooting from or across a roadway, and possessing a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Robert V. Freeworth (59) Grand Rapids, OH: Two counts aiding another in a wildlife violation
Ronnie L. Borders (34) Weston, OH: Deer check-in violation
Jo L. Sears (62) Bowling, Green, OH: Purchase wild animal or part thereof
Robert Parker Jr. (64) Portage, OH: Purchase wild animal or part thereof
Shawn Matthews (34) Grand Rapids, OH: Purchase wild animal or part thereof
William Seyfried (70) Gibsonburg, OH: Purchase wild animal or part thereof
Rodney Hall (44) Bowling Green, OH: Purchase wild animal or part thereof
Jarod Sinning (39) Bowling Green, OH: Purchase wild animal or part thereof (2 counts)
Albert Tift Jr. (63) Toledo, OH: Purchase wild animal or part thereof
Matthew Langlois (40) Waterville, OH: Theft by deception
Samuel Young (65) Liberty Center, OH: Purchase wild animal or part thereof
Lawrence Turner (39) Toledo, OH: Theft by deception
Rick Bruielly (66) Weston, OH: Fail to keep and maintain proper taxidermy records
Louis Takas (49) Toledo, OH: Fail to keep and maintain proper processor records
Beth Blaze (46) Swanton, OH: Purchase wild animal or part thereof
Jason Szczublewski (40) Maumee, OH: Purchase wild animal or part thereof
Cyndal Waldvogel (30) Grand Rapids, OH: Purchase wild animal or part thereof
Roger Havens (70) Port Clinton, OH: Felony sale of wildlife (2 counts)
Steven Rider (57) Port Clinton, OH: 3 counts sale of wildlife (sport fish)
Carl Taylor Jr. (57) Lorain, OH: Felony sale of wildlife (4 counts), illegal use of supplemental nutrition assistance program (7 counts)- In conjunction with Ohio Department of Public Safety, Ohio Investigative Unit.
Melissa Taylor (36) Lorain, OH: Illegal use of supplemental nutrition assistance program- In conjunction with Ohio Department of Public Safety, Ohio Investigative Unit
Victor Velez (35) Cleveland, OH: Sale of wildlife (sportfish) (1 felony and 2 misdemeanor counts), receiving stolen property- In conjunction with Ohio Department of Public Safety, Ohio Investigative Unit.
Carmillo Gonzales (57) Lorain, OH: Sale of wildlife (sportfish)- In conjunction with Ohio Department of Public Safety, Ohio Investigative Unit.
Dennis Urig (64) Sheffield Lake, OH: Felony sale of wildlife (deer), deer hunting violations (2 counts)
Anthony Lenz (31) Grafton, OH: Felony sale of wildlife (sportfish)
Ronald Gasparac (60) Mansfield, OH: Felony sale of wildlife (sportfish) (3 counts)
 
For more information, contact:
Gwen Howe-Gebers, Wood County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
(419) 354-9250
 
John Windau, ODNR, Division of Wildlife
(614) 265-6325
 
Ronald Ollis, ODNR, Division of Wildlife
(614) 265-6315

Three South Carolina Men Sentenced, Fined Over $75,000 For Illegally Killing Hawks

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney William N. Nettles stated today that three Orangeburg men were sentenced today by United States Magistrate Judge Shiva Hodges, sitting in Charleston, South Carolina.  The defendants entered guilty pleas to offenses involving the unlawful trapping and killing of migratory birds at Willcreek, a 1,790-acre tract of land in Orangeburg County owned by Willcreek LLC.  Charles Williams, the registered agent for Willcreek LLC, pled guilty to 7 counts of killing Red-tailed or Cooper’s Hawks during 2013 and 2014; the remaining defendants were each named in a single count. Trapping and killing hawks without a permit is a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act under Title 16, United States Code, Section 703. 

Read more about the convictions here