|
|
Sullivan
County DEC Officer Honored as
|
|
New
York’s Top Wildlife Police Officer
|
|
|
|
|
ECO Ricky
Wood Receives “Wildlife Officer of the Year” Award
|
|
from Shikar-Safari
Club International
|
|
Albany,
NY – Albany 2018 / Newsmaker Alert / The
New
York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner
Basil Seggos announces that Environmental Conservation Police Officer (ECO)
Ricky Wood was recently honored with the “Wildlife Officer of the Year”
Award from the Shikar Safari Club International.
|
 “DEC’s
Environmental Conservation Police Officers are on the frontlines daily
protecting New York’s wildlife, natural resources, and citizens,” Commissioner
Seggos said. “Throughout his career, ECO Wood has demonstrated outstanding
service and commitment that has justifiably earned him the respect of the
public and his peers. I extend my congratulations to him on this well-deserved
honor.”
Shikar-Safari
International Club was founded in 1952 by an international group of hunters
interested in exchanging ideas about the sport and to promote the ethical
and conservation-minded hunting of big game animals, primarily in Asia
and Africa. In 1966, the Shikar-Safari International Foundation was formed
to support various wildlife conservation projects with funds raised by
club members.
Each
year, the club sponsors an award for the Wildlife Officer of the Year in
all 50 states, 10 Canadian provinces, and the territories of both nations.
ECO
Wood graduated from SUNY Cobleskill in 2002. He attended DEC’s 17th Basic
School for Uniformed Officers at the DEC Training Academy and graduated
in 2007. After graduation he was assigned to patrol Suffolk County in Long
Island and is currently stationed in Sullivan County, where he has been
on patrol for the past 10 years. In 2013, ECO Wood was selected to train
as a K-9 officer.
ECO
Wood is a self-motivated professional who fully embraces his role as an
ECO. His work ethic and enthusiasm set an outstanding example for other
officers to follow. He often volunteers to speak at hunter education classes
to promote ethical and safe hunting practices. He is routinely requested
by the community to attend and speak at large events, including outreach
sessions to educate the public on conservation and hunting laws. ECO Ricky
Wood represents the Division of Law Enforcement with courage, pride, and
professionalism.
ECO
Wood was a Sportsmen Education Instructor prior to becoming an ECO, teaching
for two years at Wawarsing Sportsman Club in Ulster County.
In
his spare time, ECO Wood likes to hunt, fish, and spend time outdoors with
his family. He also likes to spend time training with his partner K-9 Deming.
ECO Wood resides in Hurleyville with his wife April and two children, Ashlin,
16, and John, 10.
|
|
DEC
manages 4.6 million acres of public lands, including three million acres
in the Adirondack and Catskill forest preserves, 55 campgrounds and day-use
areas, more than 5,000 miles of formal trails, and hundreds of trailheads,
boat launches, and fishing piers. Plan your next outdoor adventure and
connect with us on Facebook,
Twitter,
Flickr
and Instagram.
|
|
The
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees
more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses,
boat launches and more, which are visited by 71 million people annually.
A recent study found that New York State Parks generates $5 billion in
park and visitor spending, which supports nearly 54,000 jobs. For more
information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit
the NYS Parks website, connect with us on Facebook,
or follow on Instagram
and Twitter.
Source
Document
Media
Contact:
Press
Office
Benning
DeLaMater, PIO
518-402-8000 |
