NCJ Number
148198
Journal
The Shield Volume: 3 Issue: 1 Dated: (Winter 1994) Pages: 14-19
Date Published
1994
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The article describes New Jersey's use of 110 volunteer deputy conservation officers (DCOs) to enforce wildlife laws.
Abstract
Each DCO accompanies one of the 200 salaried full-time conservation officers of the New Jersey Fish, Game, and Wildlife Division. They inspect hunting bags, make road checks in wildlife management areas, and enforce the ban on night-time deerhunting. At the same time, they have discovered numerous other offenses: illegal catching and selling of snakes and turtles, drug-dealing, car chopping operations, and even murders. After passing a 200-plus hours course on weekends, the DCOs are well prepared for their office; they learn search and seizure, patrol, first aid, PR-24, wildlife law, and the handling of firearms. Many of the DCOs also contribute valuable skills from their private lives: legal expertise, computer skills, dog handling skills, and airplane piloting skills. Both professionals and volunteers emphasize how crucial their assistance is; without their help, it would hardly be possible for the small number of salaried conservation officers to fulfill their myriad duties. The article includes numerous photographs.