The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Law Enforcement Division has sworn in 23 new wildlife law enforcement officers graduating from the agency’s 61st Basic Academy training.
The graduating officers are:
• William Henry Branam – Cary, NC
• Jason Allen Brown – Harrisburg, NC
• Cody Michael Davis – Morganton, NC
• Michael Taylor Fussell Jr. – Fallston, NC
• Ethan Lane Hales – Bladenboro, NC
• Skylar Owen Hall – Chatsworth, GA
• Nikolas Phillip Hollar – Taylorsville, NC
• Trey Randall Huffman – Vale, NC
• Ethan Samuel Martin – Oak Ridge, NC
• Joshua Nolan Myers – Jacksonville, NC
• Georgia Annabell Nines – Rocky Mount, NC
• Charles Peyton Owens – Bunn, NC
• Melinda Lee Parish – Castroville, TX
• Lee Thomas Perry – Walstonburg, NC
• Miguel Sanchez – Elkin, NC
• Brittany Elizabeth Sandifer – Seneca, SC
• Tyler Kenneth Schlegel – Jacksonville, FL
• Colin Ryan Smith – Stony Point, NC
• Jacob Andrew Stewart – Carolina Beach, NC
• Jared Isaiah Tilson – Old Fort, NC
• Carson Gaige Walker – Rockwell, NC
• Hayden David Webb – Trinity, NC
• William Alexander Wolfe – Snow Camp, NC
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 seven and a half months of rigorous training that includes N.C. standard basic law enforcement training with 1,450+ 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 recording of the August 1st graduation at First Baptist Church of Pinehurst is available on their Facebook page.