State agents balance conservation and law enforcement

Feb. 29—Combining law enforcement training with specialized knowledge of biology and forestry, conservation agents focus on the protection of people as well as wildlife.

While the agents are best known for enforcing hunting and fishing codes in the state, they have extended jurisdiction to enforce other laws. Corporal Jade Wright, who has served as a conservation agent for more than 20 years, said questions about their role are common.

"Primarily, we're enforcing laws pertaining to the fish, forest and wildlife," Wright said. "However, we do have incidental authority, so anything we come in contact with incidental to enforcing those laws, we can also enforce."

Enforcement powers include arresting people they encounter who have outstanding warrants, are publicly intoxicated or have illegal firearms. This range of enforcement powers, by necessity, comes with a lot of training.

Kelsey Gillenwater finished her degree in wildlife conservation a few years ago at Missouri Western State University. Gillenwater, a native of St. Joseph, said even after receiving her degree and going through additional academy training, agents are constantly learning on the job.

"A lot of it is learning as you go," Gillenwater said. "They can't train you for everything you're going to get thrown into on the job."

While that may apply to all types of law enforcement, a conservation agent is tasked with knowing and enforcing laws that fall outside of traditional police work. The challenge, according to Gillenwater, is bringing together the knowledge of laws that pertain to hunting, fishing, forestry and firearms with the basic procedures of law enforcement.

"Being able to hold a conversation but also paying attention to everything going on around you is part of our job," Gillenwater said. "But also, we have to know all the rules and regulations there are for everything people do in the outdoors."

Thankfully, both Wright and Gillenwater said their relationship with the Buchanan County Sheriff's Department is strong.

"If I need something, they have my back, and they're there within minutes," Gillenwater said.

With only about 200 conservation officers covering the entire state, Wright and Gillenwater said the spirit of cooperation with city and county law enforcement and among the agents themselves is crucial to effectively serving the public and preserving the vast array of wildlife and woodlands in Missouri.

To add to their arsenal of jurisdiction and equipment, in the last few years, the Department of Conservation has added a K-9 unit. Corporal Caleb Pryor, one of nine K-9 certified officers statewide, said the K-9 officers are trained to detect humans, evidence and wildlife.

Degree of training

The Buchanan County office of the Department of Conservation is located adjacent to the campus of Missouri Western State University. That makes it logical that the wildlife conservation degree program at Missouri Western has gained national recognition.

Professor Cary Chevalier, who has a Ph.D. in biology, joined the faculty in 1996 after serving with the Arizona Parks and Wildlife Department. Among his first assignments at the university was creating a degree program that would combine the theoretical and research-oriented aspects of wildlife conservation with the practical fieldwork needed to train agents.

Though Missouri is one of a few remaining states that does not require a bachelor's degree to be a conservation agent, Chevalier emphasized the importance of such a program, given the unique responsibilities of the job.

"Natural resource law enforcement is different than public peace law enforcement," Chevalier said. "Conservation law enforcement has to do with maintaining the interest of the public in the natural resources of the state."

Also, Chevalier said, the degree makes an applicant more competitive and gives flexibility throughout the applicant's career.

"What if they decide later on in their career that they like doing the biology side more than the enforcement?" Chevalier said. "Well, they're qualified (with a degree) to make an in-service transfer."

With a competitive starting salary that is about $10,000 more per year than other local law enforcement positions and an average salary statewide of $69,000, the competitive edge of a degree that offers balanced training is an asset for those interested in the field.

Overall, the growth of the training opportunities at places like Missouri Western, along with competitive salaries and a diverse job description could see the addition of new conservation officers statewide in the future.

Charles Christian anchors the evening news for News-Press NOW and also serves as an ordained minister at United Methodist Churches in Union Star and Helena, Missouri. Charles can be reached at charles.christian@newspressnow.com. Follow him on twitter: @NPNowChristian.