FLBowhunter
09-09-2006, 04:54 PM
FWC GRADUATES LARGEST CLASS EVER
September 8, 2006
Contact: Valli Finney (850) 410-4943
Cell: (850) 519-5111
Photos
One is an attorney; another, a former school teacher-coach; a third, a brand-new father; and yet another knew since he was just a tyke what career path he was going to take. Several served in the military.
During the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) law enforcement training, one injured his neck, which resulted in surgery, another one’s brother died in a traffic crash.
Still, the 46 men and women who graduated today from FWC’s Training Academy pulled together. The class is the largest ever at the academy and had the most people complete the rigorous 29-week training, seeing their families only on weekends and holidays. Only one of the original 47 did not complete the course.
“I applaud these men and women for their dedication to protecting Florida’s natural resources for their long-term well-being and enforcing the laws of the state,” Gov. Jeb Bush said. “We appreciate their service to the state.”
FWC Commission Chairman Rodney Barreto also praised the new officers.
“Graduation from the FWC’s law enforcement academy is an accomplishment reserved for an elite few individuals who have the stamina, courage and character to measure up to the highest standards of this profession,” Barreto said.
FWC’s law enforcement commander, Col. Julie Jones, commended the men and women who graduated today, saying they excelled while in training.
“People will know when they come into contact with these men and women they are dealing with professionals,” Jones said.
The graduates learned natural resource laws and other state laws they may enforce while on patrol, forensic evidence techniques, self-defense tactics, proper weapon practices, boating safety, how to operate boats and patrol vehicles and wrestled alligators.
“They learned how to help people in times of need or when an emergency arises, be it on the water or on land,” Jones said.
“These graduates are prepared to enter the workforce as top law enforcement officers, protecting people and natural resources,” Jones said. “This group came into the academy as individuals, but grew together as a group,” she said.
Charlie Bishop, an FWC lieutenant at the training academy, agrees.
“This is probably the best group we’ve had,” he said.
The officers will, in about two weeks, go to their assigned areas of the state.
The top academic graduate, Robert “Bob” O’Horo, practiced law in Atlanta for more than seven years before deciding something better was out there other than corporate mergers and acquisitions.
“I made a lot of money but didn’t like my job,” he said. “I’d rather be happy.”
What brought him to FWC was his love of hunting and fishing and helping save natural resources for future generations, something his fellow graduates agree upon. Originally from Pennsylvania, he moved in 2004 to Florida. O’Horo is assigned to the Southwest Region and will patrol Charlotte County.
Another graduate, Doyle Cook, who was reared in Crawfordville hunting and fishing, watched FWC officers (and their predecessors) educate people about the importance of following the laws regulating saltwater fishing and natural resources.
He received the coveted achievement (most-likely to succeed) award, named in memory of Officer Roy R. Burnsed Jr., who died in 2001 in the line of duty.
After high school, Cook joined the Marines, serving eight years active duty and as a reservist. He graduated from Florida State University with a criminology degree, where during his last semester, completed an internship with FWC, which sealed his desire to become an FWC officer.
“When I have children,” the married officer said, “I want to make sure the resources have not been depleted so my children can enjoy it the same way I have.”
Cook is assigned to the Special Enforcement Area in South Florida and will patrol Collier County.
Dara Demarest, one of three women in the academy, first became a teacher who coached softball and soccer (both of which she played in high school) and was employed by the City of Vero Beach in the recreation department. She is originally from Hollywood in Broward County. She is assigned to the South Region and will patrol Palm Beach County.
“The academy was definitely strenuous physically,” she said.
Nathaniel “Brian” Christy, learned on the academy’s third day how quickly the recruits had become a family. His only sibling, brother Paul Christy, 33, died in a traffic crash in Hamptonville, N.C.
“I was pulled from my classes and told,” he said. “They said ‘take as much time as you need.’ They asked all the time how my family and I were doing.”
The former Air Force staff sergeant, who was a survival instructor, took the first test of the academy with his fellow recruits the day after returning from his brother’s funeral.
He scored in the high 90s, thanks to others helping him with the studies he missed. He is assigned to the Special Enforcement Area and will patrol Monroe County.
Another officer, Daniel Cantu, has a degree in wildlife management from Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas. He is from Houston, and is assigned to the Southwest Region, based out of Lee County.
“I love to hunt and fish and wanted a job dealing with natural resources,” he said. “I’ve always been attracted to law enforcement.”
Adam “Beau” Small, a former Marine artillery officer who served in Kuwait, is from Jacksonville. He has a master’s degree in criminology and is assigned to the Southwest Region, where he will patrol Lee County.
“I’ve been planning on a law enforcement career and it was kind of a no-brainer to become an FWC officer.
I was sitting in the desert, hot as can be, and I said: “My next job will be on the water,’” the long-time saltwater fisherman said. “I wanted to be close to home, and I love Florida.”
But, he nearly didn’t make it through the academy. During the defensive tactics training portion, he herniated a disk in his neck and then it ruptured. Following corrective surgery, he continued the classroom work, but could not participate in physical activities for a month.
“I bounced back pretty quickly and am 100 percent now,” Small said.
The strenuousness of the academy implanted one thought in his head as he pondered his learning experiences.
“The end is worth the means.”
And, with this academy, a second-generation FWC officer graduated.
Joseph Johnston, 21, of Lake City, is the son of FWC pilot Joe Johnston, based out of the North Central Region, and nephew of FWC investigator Eric Johnston who is assigned to the Carrabelle office. The new officer will be assigned to the Northeast Region and patrol Osceola County.
Even though his father and uncle attempted to prepare him for the academy, he was surprised.
“It was a whole lot more than I thought,” he said.
The new officer said he never thought of being anything else.
“It’s all I ever knew growing up,” he said.
September 8, 2006
Contact: Valli Finney (850) 410-4943
Cell: (850) 519-5111
Photos
One is an attorney; another, a former school teacher-coach; a third, a brand-new father; and yet another knew since he was just a tyke what career path he was going to take. Several served in the military.
During the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) law enforcement training, one injured his neck, which resulted in surgery, another one’s brother died in a traffic crash.
Still, the 46 men and women who graduated today from FWC’s Training Academy pulled together. The class is the largest ever at the academy and had the most people complete the rigorous 29-week training, seeing their families only on weekends and holidays. Only one of the original 47 did not complete the course.
“I applaud these men and women for their dedication to protecting Florida’s natural resources for their long-term well-being and enforcing the laws of the state,” Gov. Jeb Bush said. “We appreciate their service to the state.”
FWC Commission Chairman Rodney Barreto also praised the new officers.
“Graduation from the FWC’s law enforcement academy is an accomplishment reserved for an elite few individuals who have the stamina, courage and character to measure up to the highest standards of this profession,” Barreto said.
FWC’s law enforcement commander, Col. Julie Jones, commended the men and women who graduated today, saying they excelled while in training.
“People will know when they come into contact with these men and women they are dealing with professionals,” Jones said.
The graduates learned natural resource laws and other state laws they may enforce while on patrol, forensic evidence techniques, self-defense tactics, proper weapon practices, boating safety, how to operate boats and patrol vehicles and wrestled alligators.
“They learned how to help people in times of need or when an emergency arises, be it on the water or on land,” Jones said.
“These graduates are prepared to enter the workforce as top law enforcement officers, protecting people and natural resources,” Jones said. “This group came into the academy as individuals, but grew together as a group,” she said.
Charlie Bishop, an FWC lieutenant at the training academy, agrees.
“This is probably the best group we’ve had,” he said.
The officers will, in about two weeks, go to their assigned areas of the state.
The top academic graduate, Robert “Bob” O’Horo, practiced law in Atlanta for more than seven years before deciding something better was out there other than corporate mergers and acquisitions.
“I made a lot of money but didn’t like my job,” he said. “I’d rather be happy.”
What brought him to FWC was his love of hunting and fishing and helping save natural resources for future generations, something his fellow graduates agree upon. Originally from Pennsylvania, he moved in 2004 to Florida. O’Horo is assigned to the Southwest Region and will patrol Charlotte County.
Another graduate, Doyle Cook, who was reared in Crawfordville hunting and fishing, watched FWC officers (and their predecessors) educate people about the importance of following the laws regulating saltwater fishing and natural resources.
He received the coveted achievement (most-likely to succeed) award, named in memory of Officer Roy R. Burnsed Jr., who died in 2001 in the line of duty.
After high school, Cook joined the Marines, serving eight years active duty and as a reservist. He graduated from Florida State University with a criminology degree, where during his last semester, completed an internship with FWC, which sealed his desire to become an FWC officer.
“When I have children,” the married officer said, “I want to make sure the resources have not been depleted so my children can enjoy it the same way I have.”
Cook is assigned to the Special Enforcement Area in South Florida and will patrol Collier County.
Dara Demarest, one of three women in the academy, first became a teacher who coached softball and soccer (both of which she played in high school) and was employed by the City of Vero Beach in the recreation department. She is originally from Hollywood in Broward County. She is assigned to the South Region and will patrol Palm Beach County.
“The academy was definitely strenuous physically,” she said.
Nathaniel “Brian” Christy, learned on the academy’s third day how quickly the recruits had become a family. His only sibling, brother Paul Christy, 33, died in a traffic crash in Hamptonville, N.C.
“I was pulled from my classes and told,” he said. “They said ‘take as much time as you need.’ They asked all the time how my family and I were doing.”
The former Air Force staff sergeant, who was a survival instructor, took the first test of the academy with his fellow recruits the day after returning from his brother’s funeral.
He scored in the high 90s, thanks to others helping him with the studies he missed. He is assigned to the Special Enforcement Area and will patrol Monroe County.
Another officer, Daniel Cantu, has a degree in wildlife management from Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas. He is from Houston, and is assigned to the Southwest Region, based out of Lee County.
“I love to hunt and fish and wanted a job dealing with natural resources,” he said. “I’ve always been attracted to law enforcement.”
Adam “Beau” Small, a former Marine artillery officer who served in Kuwait, is from Jacksonville. He has a master’s degree in criminology and is assigned to the Southwest Region, where he will patrol Lee County.
“I’ve been planning on a law enforcement career and it was kind of a no-brainer to become an FWC officer.
I was sitting in the desert, hot as can be, and I said: “My next job will be on the water,’” the long-time saltwater fisherman said. “I wanted to be close to home, and I love Florida.”
But, he nearly didn’t make it through the academy. During the defensive tactics training portion, he herniated a disk in his neck and then it ruptured. Following corrective surgery, he continued the classroom work, but could not participate in physical activities for a month.
“I bounced back pretty quickly and am 100 percent now,” Small said.
The strenuousness of the academy implanted one thought in his head as he pondered his learning experiences.
“The end is worth the means.”
And, with this academy, a second-generation FWC officer graduated.
Joseph Johnston, 21, of Lake City, is the son of FWC pilot Joe Johnston, based out of the North Central Region, and nephew of FWC investigator Eric Johnston who is assigned to the Carrabelle office. The new officer will be assigned to the Northeast Region and patrol Osceola County.
Even though his father and uncle attempted to prepare him for the academy, he was surprised.
“It was a whole lot more than I thought,” he said.
The new officer said he never thought of being anything else.
“It’s all I ever knew growing up,” he said.