After covering two fairly recent large events — Fish Ohio and the Little Portage Wildlife Area Restoration Project — I have come in contact with several Ohio Department of Natural Resources wildlife officers, and I have found them to be helpful, patient, and informative.
Earlier this week, eight new officers graduated from their training and were sworn in ready to uphold their duties to serve the public and protect and promote the state’s wildlife resources. The ceremony took place at Deer Creek State Park Lodge & Conference Center last week, according an ODNR news release.
These individuals are commissioned peace officers and provide law enforcement services at Ohio’s recreational properties and on its waters, which can be anything from educating a boater on proper safety to enforcing conservation laws.
The peace officer training took place at the Ohio State Highway Patrol Training Academy in Columbus.
Three of the eight recent officers were from northwest Ohio: Michael Chandler of Oregon is assigned to Maumee Bay State Park; Mitchell Sturm of Sylvania is assigned to East Harbor State Park in Marblehead; and Konner Logston of Portage, Ohio, which is in Wood County, is also assigned to East Harbor State Park.