Guest Opinion - Is the protection of Iowa’s natura
Mar 17, 2010 16:22:00 GMT -6
Post by sako222j on Mar 17, 2010 16:22:00 GMT -6
Recent decisions within the Department of Natural Resources, specifically leadership selections in the Law Enforcement Bureau, are being called into question by sportsmen and Iowa legislators.
Robert Garrison, ex-head of the Iowa State Patrol and, for a very short time, head of Iowa Corrections, was recently selected to be the DNR Law Enforcement Bureau chief. In a news release DNR Director Richard Leopold described Garrison as an “avid” outdoorsman. Interesting choice of words as in the past 10 years Garrison has purchased a fishing license six times and a hunting license only after being hired. I guess in Leopold’s mind that is “avid” since he has only occasionally purchased a fishing license himself and never a hunting license. (It was common for conservation officers to run across past DNR directors in the field either hunting or fishing.)
Also meeting Leopold’s definition of “avid” is DNR Deputy Director Patricia Boddy, who had never purchased a hunting or a fishing license until that fact was revealed at the conservation officer’s statewide meeting. She has since purchased licenses – though I question is how much actual usage they get.
Purchasing a license does not qualify someone as being an “avid” outdoors person.
Equally, if not more, alarming was the selection of Jason Sandholdt as the Law Enforcement bureau assistant chief. Sandholdt was district supervisor for the south central district until his actions warranted a six-month internal investigation that was initiated by his own officers. At the conclusion of the investigation, he was removed from that position. He was the put into a newly created slot within the DNR’s Des Moines Central Office. Deputy Director Boddy told the conservation officers that Sandholdt would never be put in a position to supervise officers again. So much for her word.
That Garrison headed the Iowa State Patrol does not make him qualified to be head conservation officer. DNR conservation officers and Iowa State Patrol troopers are both state peace officers and attend the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy – but that is where any similarity ends. The troopers have their own separate academy at ILEA and do not intermingle with other trainees.
After graduating from ILEA, conservation officers have an additional 14 weeks of field training before they are on their own. They also have specialized training in waterfowl identification, swift water rescue, ice rescue and more.
In other words, troopers are not trained to be conservation officers and conservation officers are not trained to be troopers.
Another interesting note is that in the job description for DNR law enforcement supervisors, the DNR hierarchy has removed the requirement of having a fishery, wildlife or natural resource background. That makes absolutely no sense, unless they are looking to fill those positions with more “avid” outdoors people.
In 1997 there were 82 field conservation officers to patrol the entire state. That number has been reduced to 64 – two less than the number of conservation officers in 1969! During this time the Law Enforcement Bureau gained at least eight positions within the Des Moines central office.
These developments have led Iowa legislators to take action. Sen. Dennis Black is leading the effort to terminate both the DNR Law Enforcement Bureau chief and assistant bureau chief positions until this situation can be rectified. This language can be found on page 6, line 8 of House File 2525.
Additional action has been taken by Representative Matt Windschitl’s with an amendment to House File 2481 that would require the DNR Law Enforcement Bureau chief to have prior experience as a peace officer employed by the department in the field enforcing the hunting and fishing regulations of the state.
This effort is bipartisan – it has nothing to do with someone being a Democrat or a Republican. It is about doing the right thing for Iowa’s natural resources and their protection for future generations. If you value Iowa’s natural resources, please contact your legislator and ask them to support H.F. 2525 and H.F. 2481.
Robert Garrison, ex-head of the Iowa State Patrol and, for a very short time, head of Iowa Corrections, was recently selected to be the DNR Law Enforcement Bureau chief. In a news release DNR Director Richard Leopold described Garrison as an “avid” outdoorsman. Interesting choice of words as in the past 10 years Garrison has purchased a fishing license six times and a hunting license only after being hired. I guess in Leopold’s mind that is “avid” since he has only occasionally purchased a fishing license himself and never a hunting license. (It was common for conservation officers to run across past DNR directors in the field either hunting or fishing.)
Also meeting Leopold’s definition of “avid” is DNR Deputy Director Patricia Boddy, who had never purchased a hunting or a fishing license until that fact was revealed at the conservation officer’s statewide meeting. She has since purchased licenses – though I question is how much actual usage they get.
Purchasing a license does not qualify someone as being an “avid” outdoors person.
Equally, if not more, alarming was the selection of Jason Sandholdt as the Law Enforcement bureau assistant chief. Sandholdt was district supervisor for the south central district until his actions warranted a six-month internal investigation that was initiated by his own officers. At the conclusion of the investigation, he was removed from that position. He was the put into a newly created slot within the DNR’s Des Moines Central Office. Deputy Director Boddy told the conservation officers that Sandholdt would never be put in a position to supervise officers again. So much for her word.
That Garrison headed the Iowa State Patrol does not make him qualified to be head conservation officer. DNR conservation officers and Iowa State Patrol troopers are both state peace officers and attend the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy – but that is where any similarity ends. The troopers have their own separate academy at ILEA and do not intermingle with other trainees.
After graduating from ILEA, conservation officers have an additional 14 weeks of field training before they are on their own. They also have specialized training in waterfowl identification, swift water rescue, ice rescue and more.
In other words, troopers are not trained to be conservation officers and conservation officers are not trained to be troopers.
Another interesting note is that in the job description for DNR law enforcement supervisors, the DNR hierarchy has removed the requirement of having a fishery, wildlife or natural resource background. That makes absolutely no sense, unless they are looking to fill those positions with more “avid” outdoors people.
In 1997 there were 82 field conservation officers to patrol the entire state. That number has been reduced to 64 – two less than the number of conservation officers in 1969! During this time the Law Enforcement Bureau gained at least eight positions within the Des Moines central office.
These developments have led Iowa legislators to take action. Sen. Dennis Black is leading the effort to terminate both the DNR Law Enforcement Bureau chief and assistant bureau chief positions until this situation can be rectified. This language can be found on page 6, line 8 of House File 2525.
Additional action has been taken by Representative Matt Windschitl’s with an amendment to House File 2481 that would require the DNR Law Enforcement Bureau chief to have prior experience as a peace officer employed by the department in the field enforcing the hunting and fishing regulations of the state.
This effort is bipartisan – it has nothing to do with someone being a Democrat or a Republican. It is about doing the right thing for Iowa’s natural resources and their protection for future generations. If you value Iowa’s natural resources, please contact your legislator and ask them to support H.F. 2525 and H.F. 2481.
