NEW WATERWAYS CONSERVATION OFFICERS GRADUATE, PREPARE TO REPORT TO REGIONS FOR DUTY
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is pleased to announce that eight members of the 27th Class of Waterways Conservation Officers (WCO) have formally graduated from the agency's H.R. Stackhouse School of Fishery Conservation and Watercraft Safety.
Following a graduation ceremony held today at the Pennsylvania State Capitol, the officers will report to their assigned regions across the Commonwealth next week to begin their duties. "I am proud to officially welcome this dedicated group of new officers to the Fish and Boat Commission and our Bureau of Law Enforcement," said Col. Jeffrey Sabo, Director of the PFBC Bureau of Law Enforcement. "With their intense training behind them, these officers are ready to serve the anglers and boaters in Pennsylvania and work to protect, conserve, and enhance our aquatic resources."
Before graduating, officers undergo an extensive 49-week training program which encompasses all aspects of standard police principles and conservation law enforcement. Following civil service testing and selection, trainees completed a 17-week Municipal Police Officers Basic Training conducted at Mansfield University, Tioga County. An additional 32 weeks of training was conducted at the PFBC’s H.R. Stackhouse school located in Bellefonte, Centre County, and included field training alongside seasoned WCOs.
During their conservation law enforcement careers, the officers' duties will be multifaceted and include patrolling the streams, rivers, and lakes in their regions; conducting environmental investigations; participating in public outreach events; and stocking waterways with fish.
The new Waterways Conservation Officers are listed below, along with their hometowns and assigned regions.
Mary Blair, Coraopolis, assigned to W. Schuylkill County
David Derkits, Bangor, assigned to Northampton County
Jonathan Dinges, Hollidaysburg, assigned to N. Luzerne County
Ethan Duffy, Jeanette, assigned to N. Susquehanna/E. Bradford counties
Kaleb Null, Reinholds, assigned to Berks County
Derek Sunafrank, Bradford, assigned to Delaware County
Owen Trimbull, Bear Lake, assigned to S. Chester County
Reese Walter, Landisville, assigned to S. York County
In addition to the graduating class, several WCOs recently accepted new assignments, which include:
Blake Anderson, transferred from W. Schuylkill County to Warren County
Zachary Christy, transferred from Clearfield County to S. Westmoreland/N. Fayette counties
Andrew Fish, transferred from E. Schuylkill County to McKean County
Derrick Noonan, transferred from N. Dauphin/Northumberland counties to Clearfield County
Cassidy Shawley, transferred from N. Luzerne County to Potter County
Tom Watson, transferred from Potter County to Tioga County
Group and individual photos of the 27th Class of WCOs can be found here. (All photos courtesy PFBC)
