Three locals among latest Wildlife Commission officer class
Published 12:00 am Sunday, August 11, 2024
- The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Law Enforcement Division held the 60th Basic Academy Graduation at First Baptist Church of Pinehurst Friday, July 19, 2024. Back row from left, Training Director Lt. Darby Enoch, Joshua Collins, Jonathan McLawhorn, Tyler Clark, Zachary Jurkovski, John Schlegel, Chandler McClamrock, Jonathan Montague, Walter Hill and Joshua Goodman. Front row from left, Hannah Kerrigan, Austin Keever, Garrett Brown, Austin Lear, Vincent Capano, Adam Congdon, Noah Gosner, Justin Eckart, Brett Shreve and Assistant Training Director Sgt. Garrett Gooch.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Law Enforcement Division has sworn in 18 new wildlife law enforcement officers, including three local names, who graduated from the agency’s 60th Basic Academy training.
Salisbury’s Chandler J. McClamrock and Austin R. Lear joined Cooleemee’s Justin C. Eckart and 15 more newly-minted officers at the oath-swearing ceremony at First Baptist Church of Pinehurst on July 19.
To graduate, recruits are required to complete conservation-specific training on fish and wildlife laws, motorboat accident investigation and protected species training. Instruction covers statutory and investigation procedures, defensive tactics, fish and game laws, and pursuit driving and boating. It’s 7.5 months of rigorous training that includes N.C. standard basic law enforcement training with 1,110+ hours of classroom and practical exercise. Recruits receive instruction on a wide range of laws from general crime, traffic offense, ABC/drug law, juvenile law, as well as hunting, fishing, boating and trapping laws. They also receive training in practical exercises such as drivers training, firearms, subject control/arrest techniques, conducting traffic stops, patrol techniques and game warden tactics.
All wildlife law enforcement officer trainees are required to pass an extensive background, psychological and physical screening before entering an intensive accredited academy conducted by the Law Enforcement Division. Training is held at the N.C. Department of Public Safety Samarcand Training Academy in Jackson Springs.
The other graduating officers are: Garrett L. Brown of Sault Ste Marie, Michigan; Vincent G. Capano of Salem, Massachusetts; Tyler H. Clark of Hertford; Joshua C.D. Collins of Marion; Adam L. Congdon of Little Falls, New York; Noah K. Gonser of Grand Blanc, Michigan; Joshua C. Goodman of West Jefferson; Walter E. Hill of Macclesfield; Zachary A. Jurkovski of Big Lake, Minnesota; Austin J. Keever of Leicester; Hannah C. Kerrigan of Monmouth, Massachusetts; Jonathan B. McLawhorn of Vanceboro; Jonathan T. Montague of Midland; John C. Schlegel of Lexington, Kentucky; and Brett L. Shreve of Pleasant Garden.
