LAW ENFORCEMENT IN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

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1 LAW ENFORCEMENT IN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT Bob Thompson Lead Wildlife Investigator Colorado Parks and Wildlife March 4, 2015 Parks and Wildlife Commission, Denver

2 YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CANNOT HIDE! POACHERS BEWARE!! Importance of Law Enforcement History License Suspensions/ Points Wildlife Violator Compact Operation Game Thief

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4 I want as game protectors men of courage, resolution, and hardihood, who can handle the rifle, ax and paddle: who can camp out in summer or winter; who can go on snow shoes, if necessary; who can go through the woods by day or by night without regard to trails. Theodore Roosevelt November 28, 1899 Letter to the Commission

5 WILDLIFE OFFICER EXPECTATIONS

6 HISTORY AMERICAN WILDLIFE LAWS EVOLVED FROM EUROPEAN HERITAGE 1646 FIRST WILDLIFE LAW - PORTSMOUTH, RHODE ISLAND CLOSED DEER HUNTING DUE TO DECLINING DEER NUMBERS 1900 THE LACEY ACT IS INACTED. FIRST FEDERAL WILDLIFE LAW TO PROHIBIT UNLAWFUL INTERSTATE TRANSPORT

7 COLORADO HISTORY 1861 COLORADO BECOMES U.S. TERRITORY - PROTECTION OF TROUT FROM SEINS AND TRAPS WAS FIRST WILDLIFE LAW 1870 PROHIBITION ON DYNAMITING FISH 1876 COLORADO IS ADMITTED AS THE 38 TH STATE OF THE UNION 1891 FIRST GAME AND FISH COMMISSIONER HIRED FOUR WARDENS 1897 DEPT. OF FORESTRY, GAME AND FISH CREATED PRECUSOR OF TODAY S AGENCY

8 COLORADO HISTORY 1937 Established a civilian commission as oversight to agency History of Commission s authority to suspend

9 LICENSE SUSPENSIONS 1937 Abolished Commissioner position and authority to suspend a license transfers to Game and Fish Commission. Suspension of any license shall not exceed 6 months.

10 LICENSE SUSPENSIONS 1953 Suspension shall not exceed one year Provision to extend by one year if suspension violated

11 LICENSE SUSPENSIONS 1969 Point System 18/5 yrs. Suspension shall not exceed three years Provision to extend by three years if suspension violated

12 LICENSE SUSPENSIONS 1985 Point System 20/5 yrs. Hearing Officer to act behalf of Commission Suspension shall not exceed three years Provision to extend by two years if suspension violated and $500 fine

13 LICENSE SUSPENSION POINTS 2015 Similar to the driver s license suspensions Points assessed to each violation Accumulate 20 or more points within 5 year period Suspension for period of 1-5 years Egregious crimes can be more About 650 people on suspension in Colorado

14 IMPORTANCE OF SUSPENSIONS/POINTS/HEARING OFFICER Point system is fair and adds consistency - repeat violators/serious offenses Deterrent to would be wildlife violators Supports criminal conviction/wildlife Officer Validates that Hearing Officer is fair and consistent Suspensions expected and supported by our communities and constituents across the State.

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16 HISTORY Patterned after the drivers license compact. Legislation drafted by Nevada & Colorado in Legislation passed in 1989 in Colorado, Nevada, & Oregon. Effective in 1991.

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18 IMPORTANCE OF THE COMPACT Mobility of many wildlife violators. A proactive approach to deter wildlife violations. Deterrent to would-be wildlife violators.

19 BENEFIT TO SPORTSMEN Allows a non-resident from member compact state to be treated as resident. This is not a Get Out of Jail Free card, only a tool for the field officer.

20 BENEFIT TO MEMBER STATES Reciprocal recognition of license suspension and revocations by member states. Allows officers to stay in the field when dealing with non-residents from member states. Cooperative interstate effort to enhance wildlife agencies ability to protect and manage the wildlife resources

21 Two Parts to the Compact Reciprocal Suspension. Failure to Comply (FTC) with Provisions of Citation.

22 RECIPROCAL RECOGNITION All participating states recognizes suspension from other compact states as if it had happened in their state. Each participating state shall communicate suspension information to other participating states in form and content as contained in the compact manual.

23 NOTICE OF FAILURE TO COMPLY FTC process within six months of citation issuance Notice sent to defendant by issuing state 28 days to come into compliance. Notice sent to the home state for review if the defendant does not reply. Home state will notify the defendant of the facts and allow them 14 days to comply before the home state starts the suspension process.

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25 OPERATION GAME THIEF A Wildlife Crime Stoppers Program A non-profit 501-3(c) organization Governed by seven-member civilian board and one CPW employee Pays rewards to citizens who turn in poachers $100 for fish and small game $250 for turkey $500 for big game

26 OVERVIEW OF OGT Colorado OGT started in 1981 Reward paid upon a citation being issued or an arrest made - does not depend on conviction Reporting party (RP) to request reward upon initially calling OGT RP may remain anonymous if they choose

27 WHY IS OGT IMPORTANT? Wildlife belong to the people of the state

28 WILDLIFE BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE THIS MEANS YOU!!!

29 WHY IS OGT IMPORTANT? Wildlife belong to the people of the state Few officers so rely on citizens/sportsmen

30 COLORADO HAS FEW OFFICERS

31 ORGANIZATION 224 Colorado Wildlife Officers (CWO) The Regions provides majority of LE efforts. 137 District Wildlife Managers 34 Wildlife Technicians 18 Area Wildlife Managers 3 Assistant Regional Managers 4 Regional Managers 10 Law Enforcement Unit (LEU) Other Branches account for the other 18 CWO

32 DEMOGRAPHICS 764 sq. mile of patrol district/cwo 1,726 surface acres of water to patrol/cwo 407 miles of flowing rivers &streams/cwo 36,700 people/colorado Wildlife Officer

33 WHY IS OGT IMPORTANT? Wildlife belong to the people of the state Few officers so rely on citizens/sportsmen Ethical obligation to report poachers that steal our wildlife

34 2014 OGT STATS 668 reports of poaching received 29 citations written to date OGT paid a total of 8 rewards totaling $4, About 2/3 of money received is from court ordered donations. Other 1/3 is from donations and merchandise sales

35 SUMMARY

36 SUMMARY Suspensions/Point System/Hearing Officer

37 SUMMARY Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact

38 SUMMARY Operation Game Thief

39 ANY QUESTIONS??