Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2021 - 54

23rd
Six members of the 23rd Waterways Conservation
Officer (WCO) class graduated from training
during a commencement ceremony held June 25
in the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
(PFBC) Centre Region Office, Bellefonte.
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas J. Burrell, the PFBC Bureau
of Law Enforcement (BLE), was Master of Ceremonies.
Executive Director Timothy D. Schaeffer, PFBC, and Colonel
Clyde N. Warner, PFBC, delivered the keynote addresses.
Paul Swanson (BLE, retired), was the guest speaker. Tyler
M. Crooks spoke on behalf of the graduates. Presentation
of diplomas and recognition awards followed, presented by
Richard Lewis, PFBC President, Board of Commissioners,
PFBC Executive Director Schaeffer, and Colonel Warner.
The Edward W. Manhart Academic Achievement Award was
presented to Connor G. Dobransky for maintaining the highest
grade point average during training. The Sergeant Brook R.
Tolbert Firearms Excellence Award and a Lifesaving Award were
presented to Tyler M. Crooks. The Resident Staff Officer Award
was presented to WCO Daniel J. Wilson, for his leadership while
counseling the 23rd WCO class during their training.
Graduates completed 21 weeks of municipal police officer
training with the Pennsylvania State Police. This training
WCO Class
Graduation
Graduate
Tyler M. Crooks
Assigned To
Northern Somerset
Connor G. Dobransky Butler
Brian T. Guenin
Frank J. Mehalko III
Greene/Southern Washington
Eastern Berks/Western Montgomery
Christian W. Trauger Northern Wayne
Kyle A. Wirick
Franklin/Eastern Fulton
included all aspects of police work, basic law, investigation
techniques, first aid, CPR, firearms, patrol vehicle operation,
crimes code, and unarmed self-defense.
In addition, graduates completed conservation officer
training at the Commission's H.R. Stackhouse School of
Fishery Conservation and Watercraft Safety in Bellefonte.
The conservation officer training curriculum included
boat operation, boating-under-the-influence detection and
apprehension, accident investigation, fish, reptile, and amphibian
identification, water pollution investigation, public speaking,
standard operating procedures, Pennsylvania fishing and boating
laws and regulations, federal fish and wildlife law, and field
training. The WCO training program is nearly a year long.
There are about
The 23rd WCO Class
54
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * September/October 2021
Tyler M. Crooks spoke on behalf
of the graduates.
100 commissioned
officers throughout the
Commonwealth. To
become a WCO or for
more information, contact
the Pennsylvania Fish
and Boat Commission at
717-705-7861, visit the
Commission's website at
www.fishandboat.com,
contact the State Civil
Service Commission at
717-783-3058, or visit
the State Civil Service
Commission's website at
www.scsc.pa.gov.
www.fishandboat.com
photos-Andrea Feeney
http://www.fishandboat.com http://www.scsc.pa.gov http://www.fishandboat.com
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2021

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