Show co CDs CD's loin join IPOs in statewide authority By Hy John C C. C Dickerson Conservation Officer West Vest Vernal District V This is one of the few times of the year that could be classed as slow for a Division Conservation Conservation Conservation Con Con- Officer and in looking for a subject for this article I came across some information that I am sure will be of in in- terest Most people consider conservation conservation conservation con con- officer a fancy name for game warden and while we spend a good deal of our time enforcing fish and game laws Jaws we are also involved in many other conservation activities dealing with fish and game matters including the enforcement enforcement en en- of laws other than those found in our own code The latter is what most people are not aware of and should be In 1973 the legislature passed a abill abill abill bill that made COs CO's peace officers and extended the authority and responsibilities of the game officer This authority means the CO is one of the few enforcement officers in Utah who is authorized to enforce all laws of the state stale Most peace officers are able to enforce the laws of a limited jurisdiction such as city or county officers but CO COs s 's as well as highway patrol officers have authority statewide BECAUSE CAUSt OF 0 this new responsibility all CO COs s 's are required to be graduates of the Utah Law Enforcement Academy This is an eight week course conducted in Salt Lake City and all other law enforcement enforcement enforcement en en- agencies attend this schooling as well I dont don't have the figures available but Im I'm sure that of all the officers to go through the school more Wildlife Resources officers have finished in the top 90 percent of their class than any other agency I feel this is an achievement that we can be proud of because the competition com com- competition petition is pretty stiff The figures for 1976 are not available yet as to how many hours our officers assisted other departments in enforcement situations but in 1975 we spent 2850 hours helping fellow officers officers of of- and the citizens of Utah TilE THE CRIMES CHIMES we are involved involved in in- vol ed in run from helping or backing up other officers dealing with drunken drivers or armed robbers to abandoned vehicles 1 I wouldn't hesitate to say we are involved in more cattle rustling cases than any other agency in Utah as most cattlemen and they will back up that statement Even though these activities comprise a small percentage of our work hours they are still one more source of help for Utah's citizens |