HARRISBURG, Pa. (June 24) – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is pleased to announce that 16 members of the 24th Class of Waterways Conservation Officers (WCO) have formally graduated from the agency's H.R. Stackhouse School of Fishery Conservation and Watercraft Safety.
Following a graduation ceremony held today at the Pennsylvania State Capitol, the officers will report to their assigned regions across the Commonwealth next week to begin their duties.
"It gives me a great feeling of pride to officially welcome this dedicated group of officers to our Fish and Boat Commission team," said Col. Clyde Warner, Director of the PFBC Bureau of Law Enforcement. "With their intense training behind them, these new officers are ready to serve millions of anglers and boaters in Pennsylvania and work to protect, conserve, and enhance our aquatic resources."
Before graduating, officers undergo an extensive 52-week training program encompassing all aspects of conservation law enforcement. Following civil service testing and selection, trainees completed a 26-week Municipal Police Officers Basic Training conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police at its training center in Hershey, Dauphin County. An additional 26 weeks of training was conducted at the Stackhouse school located in Bellefonte, Centre County, and included field training alongside seasoned WCOs.
During their conservation law enforcement careers, the officers' duties will be multifaceted and include patrolling the streams, rivers, and lakes in their regions; assisting with investigations; participating in public outreach events; and stocking waterways with fish.
The new Waterways Conservation Officers are listed below, along with their hometowns and assigned regions.
Tyler C. Balla, New Kensington, assigned to W. Allegheny County
Brock A. Benson, Tyrone, assigned to S. Huntingdon County
Nikolaus A. Black, Greenville, assigned to Jefferson County
Shane C. Casey, Wilburton, assigned to N. Wayne County
David H. Knight II, North East, assigned to W. Erie County
Neal S. Kokatay, Harrisburg, assigned to N. Lake Wallenpaupack
Carl A. Maiese, Manchester, assigned to Cumberland County
Ty C. Moon, Hughesville, assigned to N. Susquehanna/E. Bradford counties
Lacie Mosteller, Columbia, assigned to SW. Montgomery/W. Philadelphia counties
Derek A. Norman, Beavertown, assigned to N. Montgomery/E. Berks counties
Logan T. Opfer, Smithfield, assigned to W. Armstrong County
Wyatt D. Peiper, Carlisle, assigned to Franklin/E. Fulton counties
Sean P. Rae, Havertown, assigned to S. Chester County
Matthew R. Scott, Greenville, assigned to Delaware County
Charles H. Shoemaker, Lock Haven, assigned to Lycoming County
Thomas J. Watson III, Irwin, assigned to Potter County
In addition to the graduating class, several WCOs accepted new assignments, which include:
Kyle A. Wirick transferred from Franklin/E. Fulton counties to Indiana/E. Armstrong counties
Travis D. Miller transferred from Lehigh County to W. Schuylkill County
Brian T. Guenin transferred from Greene/S. Washington counties to E. Allegheny County
D. Dorian Seibel transferred W. Armstrong County to Greene/S. Washington counties
Daniel A. Nietupski transferred from W. Erie County to Warren County
PHOTOS AVAILABLE:
Individual photos of the 24th Class of Waterways Conservation Officers are available here.
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