The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission welcomed into its ranks 20 new wildlife officers with a sworn duty to enforce boating and conservation laws, and protect the public.
Graduation ceremonies took place recently at Campbell University, culminating 20 weeks of rigorous and intensive training for the class of 2013. The new wildlife officers now will begin six months of on-the-job training under supervision of a veteran officer. Upon completion of this field training, they will receive a permanent duty station assignment.
Wildlife officers must meet expanded law enforcement qualification standards in North Carolina. Candidates for training to become an officer are required to pass extensive background, psychological and physical screenings prior to entering the training school. Instruction covers statutory and investigation procedures, defensive tactics, fish and game laws, as well as pursuit driving and boating.
“This is an exemplary group of men and women, and I am proud to have them join the Wildlife Commission,” said Capt. Jon Evans, training director for the Commission’s Division of Law Enforcement. “They have faced the arduous challenges of multi-faceted instruction, worked as a team and as individuals, and are ready for the next step in their careers in conservation.”
The 20 new wildlife officers, their hometown and home county, and assigned county for training:
Eric Landon Blalock, Fuquay-Varina, Wake County.
Training duty station: Caswell County.
William Amos Bridges, Sanford, Lee County.
Training duty station: Perquimans County.
Eric Daniel Crouse, Ronda, Wilkes County.
Training duty station: Davidson County.
Darby Dustin Wayne Enoch, Mount Pleasant, Cabarrus County.
Training duty station: Hyde County.
Murphy Williams Hall, Albemarle, Stanly County.
Training duty station: Beaufort County.
Gary Craddock Harrison, Jr., Cape Carteret, Carteret County.
Training duty station: Craven County.
John Mark Howell II, Albemarle, Stanly County.
Training duty station: Swain County.
Mitchell Earl Lawrence, Mocksville, Davie County.
Training duty station: McDowell County.
Trevor Daniel Lemon, Winston-Salem, Forsyth County.
Training duty station: Bladen County.
Barbara Elizabeth Marshburn, Beulaville, Duplin County.
Training duty station: Iredell County.
Sampson Rodney Parker, Jr., Harrisburg, Mecklenburg County.
Training duty station: Northampton County.
Charles Tyler Sale, Ronda, Wilkes County.
Training duty station: Jackson County.
Darryl Gregory Southern, Stokesdale, Guilford County.
Training duty station: Brunswick County.
Justin Allen Stout, Ramseur, Randolph County.
Training duty station: Davie County.
Michael Vincent Varano, Spout Springs, Harnett County.
Training duty station: Warren County.
Charles Ray Vaughan, Jr., Rich Square, Bertie County.
Training duty station: Forsyth County.
Cody Adam Walker, Concord, Cabarrus County.
Training duty station: Burke County.
Stephanie Brooke Weaver, Vale, Catawba County.
Training duty station: Randolph County.
Brandon Blair Wilkins, Elizabeth City, Pasquotank County.
Training duty station: Union County.
Benjamin Tyler Wood, Raleigh, Wake County.
Training duty station: Duplin County.
Go to www.ncwildlife.org to learn more about conservation laws, the role of wildlife officers and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. A booklet on careers in wildlife enforcement is available online or upon request by calling 919-707-0101.