New Conservation Police Academy
dedicated
Send a link to a friend
Center
is an example of innovative, economical renovation
[APRIL 30, 2005]
SPRINGFIELD -- The
new Conservation Police Academy was dedicated Thursday on the
Illinois State Fairgrounds. The facility is a renovated building
that formerly housed Department of Corrections inmates. The
renovations were completed using just $6,000 of state taxpayer
money.
|
"These renovations were accomplished in
the same way that a homeowner would do a project -- using what we
had and pinching pennies at every turn," said Illinois Department of
Natural Resources Director Joel Brunsvold. "Not only did we do this
inexpensively, but we certainly have a facility of which we can be
proud." The center includes a
gymnasium, classroom, dormitories, lounge and cafeteria. The
building is furnished with items from state and federal surplus.
Donations from the private sector, including the Illinois
Conservation Foundation, have funded improvements ranging from
carpeting to bedding in the dormitories. Portions of the facility
have been used by the Illinois Conservation Police Department since
last July, already saving the agency $25,000 in lodging and rental
costs.
"To become a conservation police
officer requires an extensive amount of training and dedication,"
said Illinois Conservation Police Director Galen Westerfield. "We
have created a facility where officers can have a quality learning
experience."
The new Conservation Police Academy
will be used during training of conservation police officers, as
well as to house officers who are called to Springfield from other
locations around Illinois for special details. It will also be used
for officers receiving continuing education.
[to top of second column in this article]
|
"Conservation police officers have
some of the toughest jobs in the field of law enforcement," said Lt.
Eric Bumgardner. "Their job requires them to go into remote
locations to catch people who are breaking state conservation law.
Often, they are approaching lawbreakers whom they know have guns."
There are 158 conservation police
officers in the state of Illinois. To become an officer requires 400
hours of general police training and 12 weeks of training in
conservation law. Conservation officers' duties include enforcing
the wildlife and aquatic code, law enforcement in Illinois state
parks, and safety enforcement and training for recreational
activities, including boating, hunting and snowmobiling.
[Illinois
Department of Natural Resources news release]
|