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#05-206 October 3, 2005

South Carolina DNR Honors 2005 Officers of the Year

This year marks the 100th anniversary of game and fish law enforcement by the State of South Carolina and a Richland County natural resources officer was honored by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources as the 2005 Statewide Officer of the Year.

Sergeant Vandy K. Waller of Hopkins was awarded the title of Statewide S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Natural Resources Officer of the Year for 2005 during ceremonies held Friday, September 23 in Columbia. Five other officers were also honored for their dedication in protecting the state's natural resources through enforcement, education, special investigations, intelligence and records and staff operations.

Sgt. Vandy Waller

The annual Officer of the Year awards and banquet are dedicated to the late Chief R.M. "Bobby" Gifford, highly regarded chief of natural resources law enforcement for many years. The S.C. Wildlife Officers' Association, the Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund, the family of Chief Gifford and DNR together honored the state's top officers. Colonel Alvin Taylor, deputy director for law enforcement within the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, praised the officers for their outstanding work and dedication as he presented the awards.

Waller joined DNR in 1997. He is currently responsible for the coordination and implementation of the DNR communications system. This includes 21 repeater sites, seven consoles and more than 2,000 mobile and hand-held units. Waller has ensured that DNR's 20-year-old communications system is maintained at operational readiness at a minimal cost.

He has developed a plan to improve the current VHF communications system. Once operational, the improved system is expected to save the DNR more than $80,000 a year. To assist the DNR with communication needs over these lean budget times, Waller unselfishly moved his priorities from maintaining the communications system by adding to his duties many installations and repairs of radios at a cost saving of more than $128,000 over the past 12 months.

"With the effects of the budget causing a larger workload to be placed on Sergeant Waller, he stepped up to the plate and displayed to all that he was prepared for any challenge," said Taylor. "This year is the 100th anniversary of game and fish law enforcement by the state of South Carolina, and Vandy is a great example of leadership in our conservation efforts."

The 2005 DNR Officers of the Year, including the statewide title, were selected by a committee of key DNR law enforcement personnel and captains, and were rated in six categories: employment history; enforcement activities and specialties; awards, achievements and accomplishments; leadership, teamwork and attitude; family and community involvement; and outstanding cases.

Top men and women from across the state are chosen as DNR Officers of the Year because of their exceptional abilities in natural resources enforcement. Before assuming their duties, new officers must complete an eight-week course at the Criminal Justice Academy plus an additional five weeks of intensive DNR field training. Upon completion of the training, officers are also proficient in firearms safety and defensive driving.

South Carolina has about 200 full-time natural resources enforcement officers who serve and protect the state's natural resources by patrolling more than 31,000 square miles of the state's lands and inland waters. Officers also patrol 750 miles of tidal shoreline and marine waters, to the state's territorial boundary 3 miles offshore and beyond on special federal assignments.

Throughout the state's 46 counties, DNR officers oversee laws and regulations pertaining to more than 390,000 registered boats, some half-million licensed hunters and anglers, and the multi-million dollar coastal fishing industry. Officers enforce Wildlife Management Area regulations and statewide litter laws, instruct hunter and boating education, conduct statewide search and rescue operations, and perform community service.

The following were selected as outstanding DNR officers for 2005 from each of the state's four natural resources enforcement regions, plus marine law enforcement investigations and education and staff operations:

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