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Governor O’Malley, Congressman Kratovil Congratulate 18 New Maryland Natural Resources Police Graduates

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Arnold, Md. –-(AmmoLand.com)- The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP), the law enforcement arm of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) this morning recognized the 52nd graduating class of the Maryland Natural Resources Police Academy. This graduation ceremony marks the second class of new NRP officers hired this year. Congressman Frank M. Kratovil gave the keynote address.

“I believe that Maryland, more than any other state, has an economy so closely related to the health of the environment that to do harm to one immediately creates an imbalance in the other,” said Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-MD). “We are defined by the Chesapeake Bay, the inlets and rivers sprung from the Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean. In our state we value the environment for many reasons — beauty, sport, and recreation to name a few, but we also recognize that our environment is the backbone of our state’s economy and for many citizens the reason we are able to put food on our table, pay our mortgages and send our children to college.”

DNR Secretary John Griffin and DNR Deputy Secretary Eric Schwaab also attended the ceremony along with NRP Superintendent Colonel George F. Johnson, IV, and NRP Deputy Superintendent Lt. Colonel Alphonso Hawkins. Pastor Byron Brought gave the invocation and benediction. The ceremony was held at the Pascal Center for Performing Arts at Anne Arundel Community College.

“The Maryland Natural Resources Police are crucial to ensuring the safety of our citizens as well as our treasured land and aquatic resources are safe,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “Their contributions to our State – whether patrolling the Chesapeake Bay or protecting endangered wildlife – are truly a blessing for all of those who enjoy Maryland’s natural areas.”

“Members of this graduating class will serve at the intersection of the environment and the economy that all Marylanders rely on and I wish them the best of luck and safety in their new role,” added Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-MD).

Below is a list of graduates and their hometowns:

• · Officer Mathew A. Bentley, Joppatowne, Md
• · Officer Jeffrey L. Biermann, Cambridge, Md
• · Officer Troy E. Brimer, Salisbury, Md
• · Officer Bradley W. Bunting. Ocean City, Md
• · Officer Devin R. Corcoran, Preston, Md
• · Officer Angela R. Englehart, Big Pool, Md
• · Officer Annette M. Holmgren, Grasonville, Md
• · Officer Gregory A. Jilek, Hagerstown, Md
• · Officer John M. Jones, Elkton, Md
• · Officer Joshua R. Keeney, Frederick, Md
• · Officer Benjamin R. Lillard, Thurmont, Md
• · Officer Bradley S. Lowe, Smithsburg, Md
• · Officer Lindsey R. Markert, Baltimore, Md
• · Officer Jessica L. Mattson, Salisbury, Md
• · Officer Andrew J. Ostazeski, Port Republic, Md
• · Officer Aaron P. Saunders, Columbia, Md
• · Officer Elizabeth M. Tyler, Salisbury, Md
• · Officer Andrew T. Wilson, Rhodesdale, Md

Individual awards given to class members included

• Top Academic Award – Officer Gregory Jilek
• Marksman Award – Officer Elizabeth Tyler
• Navigation and Seamanship Award – Officer Devin Corcoran
• Leadership Award – Officer Annette Holmgren
• Physical Fitness Award – Officer Bradley Lowe.

“I cannot offer praise enough for this graduating class and all of their hard work, said DNR Secretary John Griffin. “On behalf of DNR and the NRP, congratulations on this great achievement and we look forward to working with you in protecting Maryland’s citizens and our natural resources.”

The Maryland Natural Resources Police is the oldest state law enforcement agency with its beginnings as the State Oyster Police in 1868. The NRP serves as a public safety agency with statewide authority to enforce conservation, boating, and criminal laws, as well as to provide primary law enforcement services for Maryland’s state parks, state forests and public lands owned and managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The agency is also responsible for maritime and rural search and rescue, and is designated as the state’s lead agency for homeland security on Maryland waters.

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FaceBook Case A First For WI Game Wardens
Technology aside, public tips still the key for catching criminals.

Wisconsin DNR

MADISON WI --(AmmoLand.com)- One Waukesha County man is guilty and another awaiting court action in what the Wisconsin DNR Law Enforcement Division is calling its first arrest based upon a Facebook video of illegal deer shining spotted by an anonymous tipster.

“This was new territory for us. We learned a lot,” Conservation Warden Supervisor Rick Reed said of the case involving a video posted on the popular social networking Web site.

There have been DNR arrest cases built from information found on other Web sites – such as Craig’s List and EBay, Reed said. However, DNR’s first-ever Facebook-based case against Adam Frame, 25, of Mukwonago, and Dustin Porter, 24, of Sullivan, had one strong similarity to the more traditional cases.

“We rely heavily on the public to help us catch violators,” Reed said. “There is simply too much going on throughout the state – and on the Internet – for us to keep up with it on our own.”

This was the case of the alert citizen who spotted the video titled: “Hunting… Muktown style.” Reed said “Muktown” is a joking reference to Frame’s place of residence — Mukwonago. Published reports indicate Frame posted the video of the two allegedly using a personal vehicle’s headlights to shine deer and ultimately take shots. No deer were shot, according to the complaint.

“The tip came in late November or early December in 2008,” Reed said. “It was not until later in the investigation that we learned it actually occurred in 2007.”

Reed credits Conservation Warden Doug Zeihen, who acted as the primary investigator with Reed as secondary, for his skilled work at “piecing the computer evidence together with other known facts.” Gathering evidence from computers in a manner that is acceptable to the courts requires certain parameters, he added.

“Learning the legal aspects through this investigation was new and each site has its own legal setup for subpoenaing information,” Reed said. “There also is a whole set of terminology associated with computers that we are not used to dealing with. Gathering basic information from an Internet site takes more time and additional follow-up to confirm accuracy.

“Computers do provide some evidence that we do not normally have,” Reed said. “The legal system is definitely still adjusting.”

The complaint notes the two men were on their way home from a tavern when the alleged incident occurred in the town of Mukwonago. Reed said due to the timing of the tip and other factors, it was impossible to speculate on the condition of the two men.

On August 14, Frame was found guilty under a plea deal to shining wild animals and possessing a firearm in Waukesha County Circuit Court. Frame was fined $354 to be paid $25 each month beginning in September – or spend 6 days in jail.

The case again Porter is pending in Waukesha County Circuit Court.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick Reed – (262) 574-2160 or Joanne Haas – (608) 267-0798

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