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News Release

VDGIF Basic Law Enforcement Academy Graduates Class

Richmond, VA — The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) Basic Law Enforcement Academy has graduated a new class of officers. Clerk of the Circuit Court for Chesterfield County, The Honorable Judy L. Worthington officially swore-in the new officers.

In all, 20 new conservation police officers were sworn-in at the ceremony. These officers completed an intensive 29-week training program that included more than 200 courses. They will take up their assignments across the Commonwealth and proceed with field training under the direct supervision of field training officers.

This is the fifth class to graduate from the Department's Training Academy. VDGIF undertook establishing its own academy in order to tailor the program to the specific needs of conservation police officers.

VDGIF Executive Director Bob Duncan also spoke at the graduation ceremony noting, "This is a very impressive group of individuals. Their training has been rigorous both physically and mentally. We are so fortunate to have this caliber of people joining us at the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries."

The following is a list of the newest conservation police officers and the areas where they will be assigned:

Nathaniel Wayne Bowling - Orange County
Mark Lawrence Brewer - Floyd County
Philip Ray Baker - New Kent County
Daniel James Corley - City of Virginia Beach
Carl Haynes Dobbs - Page County
Robert Jeffrey Drummond - City of Virginia Beach
James Lee Flint - Metro Richmond
Nicholas Maximilian Gleeson - Greene County
Christopher Stephen Heberling - Fluvanna County
Andrew Jeremiah Howald - Brunswick County
Edgar Thornton Huffman - Madison County
Robert Henry Kemery, Jr. - Lunenburg County
Ivan Michael Kopelove - Chesterfield County
James Joseph Marchese - Southampton County
David Franklin Peake, II - Lunenburg County
Marc Edward Pengal - Albemarle County
Matthew Samuel Sandy - Mecklenburg County
Megan Christie Vick - City of Chesapeake
Austin Robert Wakefield - City of Suffolk
Justin Alan White - Bland County

Conservation police officers must be proficient in a wide array of skills including handling of firearms; crime scene investigations; drug and operating-under-the-influence enforcement; search and rescue; boat operation and boat trailering; etc. Awards were presented at the ceremony to recognize the hard work and proficiency of the recruits and the dedication of instructors and academy staff. They are as follows:

Top Shot Award

The Top Shot Award is given to the Conservation Police Officer recruit with the highest overall qualification scores on all firearms courses. The selection is based solely on qualification scores earned at the conclusion of the 80-hour block of firearms training held during the Academy. Recruits were required to demonstrate proficiency with their issued pistol, rifle, and with shotguns during day and night courses in a variety of demanding situations. The recipient of the Top Shot Award is Officer Philip Ray Baker who is assigned to New Kent County. Officer Baker was born in Elkins, West VA. He is a graduate of the National Business College and has proudly served our country on both foreign and domestic soil in the United States Marine Corps.

Outstanding Driver Award

The Outstanding Driver Award is given to the Conservation Police Officer recruit with the highest overall qualification scores on all driving courses. The selection is based solely on scores earned during the 80-hour block of driver training during the Academy. Due to the nature of the locations Conservation Police Officers are required to access and patrol, four-wheel drive vehicles are among the primary focus during this training. Training for this type of vehicle goes beyond the traditional training for sedan patrol vehicles utilized by traditional law enforcement agencies. Driving courses include Asphalt Precision courses, High-Speed Reaction courses, Emergency Vehicle Operations course, Off-Road Obstacle Negotiation, All Terrain Vehicle Operation, Gravel Surface Braking Course, and three different Trailer Backing Courses. The recipient of the Outstanding Driver Award is Officer David Franklin Peake, II who is assigned to Lunenburg County. Officer Peake was born in Marion, VA. He is a graduate of Radford University where he earned his degree in Criminal Justice.

Most Physically Fit Award

The Most Physically Fit Award is given to the Conservation Police Officer recruit with the best overall performance in the three areas tested by the VDGIF Basic Training Academy. The recruits were given a pre-test when they began the Academy in December, a mid-term test and a final test. The recruits were required to participate in a physical training program each day for one hour for the entire 29-week period of the Basic Academy. The four performance areas were push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups and a mile-and-a-half run. The scores were compiled and reviewed by the instructors that assisted with physical training and then confirmed by Academy staff. The recipient of the Most Physically Fit Award is Officer Philip Ray Baker who is assigned to New Kent County. Officer Baker is the recipient of the Purple Heart as a result of his service to our country with the 2nd battalion, 1st Marine regiment in Fallujah, Iraq.

Outstanding Boating Award

The Outstanding Boating Award is presented to the recruit that demonstrated the best overall ability to operate large patrol boats, jon boats, and personal watercraft. One of the primary duties of a Virginia Conservation Police Officer is to patrol the vast waterways of the Commonwealth. The recruits took part in a rigorous three-week course during which instructors evaluated their performance in high speed boat operation, precision docking drills, and a timed personal watercraft course. The recipient of the Outstanding Boating Award is Officer Justin Alan White who is assigned to Bland County. Officer White is a native of West Virginia and a graduate of Bluefield State College with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Business Administration and an Associate's degree in Computer Science.

Colonel's Award

The Colonel's Award is presented to the Conservation Police Officer recruit with the highest grade point average in the recruit class. This is the average of all 39 exams administered in the Academy. Exams covered 1,838 questions, of which, this recruit answered 1,801 correctly. These questions addressed training objectives set by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services in the areas of Professionalism, Legal Issues, Communications, Patrol, and Investigations. Other exams taken during the course of the Basic Academy were as a result of training that addressed the non-traditional law enforcement functions that pertain specifically to the unique law enforcement duties of the Virginia Conservation Police Officer. Some of these topics were Marine Theft Investigation; Hunting Incident Investigation; laws and regulations specifically pertaining to hunting, fishing, trapping, and boating; camouflage and concealment; and permits. In a very competitive field, this year's recipient edged out his classmates by obtaining a 97.9869 % average. The recipient of the Colonel's Award is Officer Ivan Michael Kopelove. Officer Kopelove is a life-long resident of Virginia and a graduate of the University of Virginia with a two Bachelor of Arts degrees, one in Environmental Science and the other in Biology. He is assigned to Chesterfield County.

Director's Award

The Director's Award is presented by VDGIF Executive Director Bob Duncan to the person voted best instructor by the recruit class. To be eligible for the award the instructor must have taught at the Basic Academy and could have been from any VDGIF division, not just Law Enforcement, or any outside agency. The recipient of the Director's Award is Officer Richard M. Howald. Officer Howald has been a law enforcement officer with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries for four years, serving in Appomattox. He provides invaluable instruction to all of our officers in areas related to physical fitness, mantracking, defensive tactics and other general subjects. He is a graduate of the 2nd Basic Law Enforcement Academy and as such, received the Board Award which recognizes the recruit who displays exceptional overall performance during the entire course of training. Officer Howald is recognized by the class for his knowledge of subject matter, ability to effectively convey the information, and for his rapport with the students.

Board Award

The Board of Game and Inland Fisheries Award is given to the recruit who displays exceptional overall performance during the entire course of training. The recipient was selected for his motivation, professionalism, peer leadership, and for being an inspiration to others. He is also recognized for his support of the Academy and staff by providing outstanding logistical and administrative support. The recipient of the Board Award is Officer Andrew Jeremiah Howald who is assigned to Brunswick County. Officer Howald was born in northern Missouri into a family of twenty 20 brothers and sisters. He has served our country in several venues throughout the world as, among other titles, a Military Police Officer.

It is the mission of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to manage Virginia's wildlife and inland fish to maintain optimum populations of all species to serve the needs of the Commonwealth; to provide opportunity for all to enjoy wildlife, inland fish, boating and related outdoor recreation and to work diligently to safeguard the rights of the people to hunt, fish and harvest game as provided for in the Constitution of Virginia; to promote safety for persons and property in connection with boating, hunting and fishing ; to provide educational outreach programs and materials that foster an awareness of and appreciation for Virginia's fish and wildlife resources, their habitats, and hunting, fishing and boating opportunities.

The 5th Basic Academy with Academy Director Lt. Milt Robinson (second row, far right ) and Academy staff member Senior Officer Mike Hill (front row, far left ).