Conservation Law Enforcement: More Dangerous Than You Think

WCO David Grove

Earlier this month Wildlife Conservation Officer David Grove conducted a traffic stop of a suspected poacher just outside of the Gettysburg National Military Park. The poacher turned out to be a convicted felon who was determined not to return to jail. As Officer Grove placed handcuffs on the man a struggle ensued and the felon shot him several times, killing him. Officer Grove's murder made national news. After all, how often is a "game warden" killed, let alone gunned down, in the line of duty?

The answer is "too often." Of the five conservation officers killed so far this year, four have been killed by gunfire. In addition to Officer Grove, two rangers with the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and an officer with the U.S. Forest Service have been fatally shot.

Because most people live their lives without ever coming into contact with a conservation officer, it is easy to understand the misconceptions the general public has about their duties and the dangers they face. National Geographic's new program 'Wild Justice' does a wonderful job in profiling the extreme dangers that these protectors face. Of particular concern these days is the use of wildlands by cartels to harvest their marijuana crop. These cartels will stop at nothing to protect their crop - even if it means killing a law enforcement officer who stumbles across the grow.

Another major concern: Just about everyone a game warden encounters during hunting season is armed. The overwhelming majority of hunters are responsible, practice appropriate gun safety, and respect both the environment and authorities. But there are those irresponsible hunters, and even criminals like Officer Grove's killer, who are out there and pose a grave danger to officers and other hunters alike.

Officer Chris Upton

C/O James Spignesi

Officer Chris Upton, with the U.S. Forest Service, was fatally shot by a hunter who mistook him for a coyote while on patrol in Georgia earlier this year. In 1998, Conservation Officer James Spignesi, with the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, was fatally shot by a poacher who claimed the shooting was an accident. What made Officer Spignesi's death all the more tragic, was that the shooter was an off duty corrections officer.

Whether they're enforcing hunting laws, fishing laws, protection conservation areas and natural resources, or investigating illegal wildlife trade, conservation officers and game wardens have an incredibly tough job. Their backup may be literally hours away. With high profile cases like the murder of Officer Grove bringing attention to the dangers, and programs like 'Wild Justice' promoting the profession in a positive way, my hope is that conservation officers will continue to be acknowledged, recognized, and thanked for the extremely important work they do every day and every night. And for those who few conservation officers and game wardens who never made it home from patrol, we will remember you always.

Since the first known deaths in 1886, 284 game wardens / conservation officers / natural resource officers from 65 different agencies have been killed in the line of duty. They will always be remembered.

• Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
• Alabama Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board
• Alaska Department of Fish and Game
• Alaska State Troopers - Fish and Wildlife Protection
• Arizona Department of Game and Fish
• Arizona Livestock Sanitary Board
• Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
• California Department of Fish and Game
• Colorado Department of Natural Resources - Wildlife Division
• Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
• Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission
• Georgia Department of Natural Resources
• Idaho Department of Fish and Game
• Illinois Department of Conservation - Division of Law Enforcement
• Indiana Department of Conservation
• Indiana Department of Natural Resources
• Iowa Department of Natural Resources
• Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Law Enforcement Division
• Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
• Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
• Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife - Warden Service
• Maryland Board of Public Works - State Fishery Force
• Maryland Natural Resources Police
• Michigan Department of Natural Resources
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Enforcement Division
• Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
• Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
• New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
• New Jersey Divison of Fish, Game and Wildlife
• New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
• New York City Board of Water Supply Police
• New York State Department of Conservation - Division of Lands and Forests
• New York State Environmental Conservation Police
• North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
• North Dakota Game and Fish Enforcement Division
• Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Division of Wildlife
• Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
• Oregon Game Commission
• Pend Oreille County Game Commission (Washington)
• Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
• Pennsylvania Game Commission
• Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
• South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
• South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks
• Spokane County Game Commission (Washington)
• Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association
• Texas Game and Fish Commission
• Texas Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Law Enforcement Division
• United States Department of Agriculture - Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations
• United States Department of Defense - Fort Bragg Conservation Law Enforcement
• United States Department of the Interior - Fish and Wildlife Service - Division of Refuge Law Enforcement
• United States Department of the Interior - Fish and Wildlife Service - Office of Law Enforcement
• United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service - Office of Investigations
• United States Environmental Protection Agency - Criminal Investigations Division
• Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
• Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department
• Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
• Washington Department of Fisheries
• Washington Department of Wildlife
• West Virginia Department of Natural Resources
• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
• Wyoming Department of Game and Fish

Fire Marshals: Straddling the Line Between Detective and Firefighter

Fire Marshal Ronald Bucca

As the World Trade Center towers burned, hundreds of law enforcement officers and firefighters rushed into them in an effort to save the thousands of citizens inside. One of those men was Fire Marshal Ronald Bucca.

Although he worked for the New York City Fire Department, Fire Marshal Bucca was actually an armed law enforcement officer, tasked with investigating very serious and deadly crimes involving arson and explosives.

Depending on the jurisdiction, law enforcement fire marshals have been around for quite a long time. I remember my first encounter with one when I was an Explorer for the Fairfax City Police Department in Virginia in the early 1990s. I was assisting with crowd control and other Explorer-duties during the city's annual 4th of July Fireworks display when I met the local fire marshal. I was surprised to learn that he was allowed to carry a gun and wear a vest, but I was even more surprised to learn he was supposed to keep them both in his trunk unless he really needed them (even as a teenager I couldn't find the logic in that!)

But how times have changed. No longer are fire marshals in Fairfax required to keep their guns and vests tucked away in their trunks. That same trend of legitimizing their law enforcement status is taking off around the country as they fulfill a critical - and very specialized - role within the greater law enforcement field, and that role doesn't come without sacrifice.

Unfortunately, Fire Marshal Bucca never came back out of the World Trade Center. He became the first law enforcement fire marshal to be killed in the line of duty in the United States when the towers collapsed. Since his death, only one other law enforcement fire marshal has been killed in the line of duty: Staff Chief Bryan Zollner, of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, was killed in an automobile accident while en route to an out-of-state meeting.

The next time you see one of your local law enforcement fire marshals stop them and thank them for what they do. Although it's not a "traditional" law enforcement job, it's one that is not without risk.

Honoring Veterans Who Died as LEOs

On this very special day, Veteran's Day, all of the staff and volunteers here at the ODMP would like to thank all U.S. military veterans across the world for their selfless service in protecting our safety and defending America from our enemies.

Throughout American law enforcement history there has been a very strong connection between the military and civilian law enforcement. It is a natural progression for service members to transition out of the military into a para-military organization like as a police department or sheriff's office. In fact, many agencies - particularly federal agencies - now give preferential treatment to veterans in the hiring process.

Officer Ryan Bonaminio

Unfortunately, many of these American heroes who pinned on a badge after getting out of the service have been killed in the line of duty protecting America's streets. Just five days ago, on Sunday, November 7, Police Officer Ryan Bonaminio was shot and killed while serving with the Riverside, California, Police Department. Officer Bonaminio had survived not only one, but two, tours of duty during Operation Iraqi Freedom only to be taken from us by a thug who had stolen a vehicle. In fact, veterans from just about every war - from the Revolutionary War to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan - have been killed in the line of duty while serving as law enforcement officers.

Although we don't track military service specifically in our database (partially due to incomplete records submitted to the ODMP), we know of almost 1,000 veterans who have been killed in the line of duty as law enforcement officers. I would estimate the actual number to be at least twice, and possibly three or four times this. There are too many fallen veteran to list here, but I have picked a few randomly who represent all veterans from all periods in America's history who died serving their country as law enforcement officers.

I thank these men and women for their service, for making America great, and for ensuring our children and grandchildren will continue to live in the greatest country in the world:

Sheriff Robert Maxwell
Greenville County Sheriff's Office, SC
Revolutionary War

Captain John Bird
Texas Rangers
War of 1812

Police Officer Alexander Algeo
New Orleans Police Department
Mexican-American War

Captain John McKinstry
Mattoon Police Department, IL
Civil War, USA, P.O.W.

Guard Supra C. Woodroof
Virginia Department of Corrections
Civil War, CSA

Captain James Meehan
Franklin Police Department, PA
Spanish-American War

City Marshal Albert Suverkrubbe
Fort Calhoun Police Department, NE
WWI

Police Officer Wallace Chapman
Philadelphia Police Department
WWII

Investigative Aide John McAuliffe
United States Postal Inspection Service
Korean War

Police Officer Joseph Zanella
Verona Police Department, PA
Vietnam War

Police Officer Nick-Tomasito Birco
San Francisco Police Department, CA
Gulf War

Trooper David J. Lane
New York State Police
War on Terror, Iraq & Afghanistan