Thirty-seven recruits successfully completed the Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officer training academy and graduated today, June 5. Ceremonies, involving the recruits' families and training academy staff, were held at the training academy in Lansing.

The 37 new officers now enter 18 weeks of field training partnered with more experienced conservation officers in the counties in which they'll be assigned. Those assignments will be handed out in the next several weeks.

"These new officers will fill critical vacancies for natural resources protection and general law enforcement coverage throughout Michigan," said DNR Director Keith Creagh. "Ensuring safe, enjoyable recreation experiences for our residents and visitors and providing enhanced public safety in our communities are among the DNR's top priorities."

DNR conservation officers serve a distinct role in Michigan's law enforcement community. They are certified police officers with the authority to enforce Michigan's criminal laws. As conservation officers, they also have unique training in a wide variety of other areas related to the protection of Michigan's citizens and natural resources.

"It's important to have conservation officers in counties throughout the state," said Gary Hagler, chief of the DNR's Law Enforcement Division. "In addition to their conservation and law enforcement duties, conservation officers deliver critical services to the citizens of this state, providing search and rescue, ice rescue and other lifesaving operations."

The new officers are:

Chad Baldwin

Jill Berry

Tyler Cole

Ethan Gainforth

Raymond Gardner

Jacob Griffin

Michael Haas

Brandon Hartleben

Patrick Hartsig

William Haskin

Joshua Jackson

Jason King

William Kinney

Shannon Kritz

Adam LeClerc

Christopher Lynch

Christopher Maher

Ethen Mapes

James McAteer IV

Hugh McMath

Andrew Monnich

Justin Muehlhauser

Craig Neal

Matthew Neterer

Casey Pullum

Daniel Robinson

Sam Schluckbier

Mark Siemen

Bradley Silorey

Robert Slick

Calvin Smith

Isaac Tyson

Benjamin Weber

Joshua Wright

James Zellinger

Mark Zitnik

Matthew Zultak

The recruits completed 22 weeks of training at the academy, including 14 weeks of required general law enforcement training and eight weeks of specialized conservation officer training. Current, experienced conservation officers served as instructors for the training academy.

The academy is funded in the DNR budget through a General Fund appropriation providing 25 new positions approved by the Legislature and Gov. Rick Snyder and nine new positions funded by hunting and fishing license revenue. The remaining positions are previously funded positions that replace officers who have recently retired or left the division.

For more information on Michigan conservation officers, including how to apply for a future training academy, go to www.michigan.gov/conservationofficers.