Maryland Natural Resources Police Welcome Two New Four-Legged Officers To The Force

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The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) recently welcomed two newly-certified natural resource canines and handlers back from finishing more than 400 hours of training in Indiana that began in January. Dock and handler, Cpl. John M. Vogt, and Ruddy and handler, OFC. David S. Rice, were awarded their certificates from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Law Enforcement on Thursday, April 17, at the District 8 Headquarters near Patoka Lake in Birdseye, Ind.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Law Enforcement donated the training for two handlers and their canines to the NRP at no expense to the agency. The Shikar-Safari Club International donated $20,000 and the National Wild Turkey Federation donated $1,000 to the NRP for operational and equipment costs.

The two dogs are cross-trained in wildlife detection (deer and turkey), evidence recovery, and human tracking and trailing. The two canines will enhance NRP operations when searching for overdue hunters or lost hikers on Maryland’s public and privately owned lands, as well as expand upon the agency’s capacity to detect illegally possessed waterfowl and other species of wildlife.

“This opportunity allowed for some positive growth to the existing Natural Resources Police canine program, “said Col. George F. Johnson IV, Superintendent of the NRP, “and will have a far-reaching impact on the future of Maryland’s canine program.”

Dock and Cpl. Vogt will be stationed in the Southern Maryland region and Ruddy and OFC. Rice will be stationed in the Eastern Maryland region. Other NRP canine units are Bear and Cpl. Sharpeta stationed in the Central Maryland region, Blu and OFC. Dieterle stationed in Western Maryland and Sgt. Nyland and her dogs, Liberty and Patriot, stationed on the Eastern Shore. All dogs and handlers are utilized throughout the state and neighboring states when called upon.

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May 19, 2008

Contact: Sgt. Ken Turner 410-260-8003 office I 443-534-5598 cell kturner@dnr.state.md.us

The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) is the enforcement arm of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). With an authorized strength of 280 officers and a dedicated staff of civilian and volunteer personnel, the NRP provide a variety of services in addition to conservation and boating law enforcement duties throughout the State of Maryland. These services include homeland security, search and rescue, emergency medical services, education, information and communications services on a round the clock basis. NRP is the only police force aside from the Maryland State Police that has statewide jurisdiction.

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov