Motoring on: crimes, codes and collection
Week 5: Jan. 31-Feb. 6
Sunday evening, 23 recruits reported back to the DNR conservation officer academy. Each week grows more demanding, and week five would be no exception. More grueling physical training, crucial classroom instruction and a challenging test lay ahead.
Crimes against property
After a 4 1/2-mile Monday morning run – with their pace continuously increasing through the weeks – the recruits marched into the classroom for crimes against property training with retired Michigan State Police (MSP) Inspector David Greydanus. Recruits learned the different classifications of all larceny and theft-based crimes.
 Preliminary witness interviewing with Conservation Officer Jeff Ginn took up the afternoon. A portion of the class included a role-playing exercise based on a scenario shown in a video. Recruits acted as witnesses and conservation officers while practicing their interviewing skills.
Motor vehicle code
Tuesday morning after breakfast and room inspection, it was time to dig into the Michigan motor vehicle code, taught by Detective Steve Hinkley of the Calhoun County Sherriff’s Department. This would be the mainstay of the next three mornings.
Detective Hinkley instructed the recruits on all elements of motor vehicle code. This included where to find the laws online and the practical application for their jobs.
In the near future, the recruits will engage in scenario training based on the motor vehicle code. In addition, a fair portion of their final Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) law enforcement licensing exam – which they must pass near the close of the academy to become law enforcement officers – relates to the motor vehicle code.
“The motor vehicle code provides a standard for traffic laws designed to facilitate traffic flow and reduce traffic crashes,” said Sgt. Jason Wicklund, recruit school commander. “Conservation officers must be proficient in knowledge and enforcement of these very important, lifesaving laws.”
Survival tactics training
During Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, recruits honed their survival tactics training skills in the gymnasium. They concentrated on proper handcuffing and search techniques and self-defense exercises.
 “Conservation officers work in a variety of conditions and often alone,” Sgt. Wicklund said. “We train our officers to be tactically safe, and that includes how they handcuff and search.”
Wicklund said backup is not always nearby for conservation officers, and they routinely transport those in custody long distances.
“We want all of our law enforcement officers to follow uniform procedures – searching and handcuffing utilizing the proper techniques.”
Must-pass exams
A milestone of the week came Thursday evening when the recruits took a 30-question motor vehicle code exam. To remain in the academy, they must pass every test, equating to 70 percent or higher. If a test score is below that minimum, recruits have an opportunity to retake it. A score of less than 70 percent on the retake means immediate dismissal from the academy. It’s something no recruit wants, and so they spend much of their free time in the evening studying, which ranges from one to four hours depending on the day.
Evidence collection
Evidence was front and center Friday morning. On-scene preliminary investigation instruction by Cpl. Todd Thorn occupied the recruits’ time as they discussed evidence collection from conservation-based crime scenes.
Recruits learned how to document a crime scene by recoding time, exact location, weather and more. Recruits also were shown a video depicting a simulated conservation-related crime scene and told to find and document evidence.
 After receiving back and reviewing the reports they’d written during week four, the recruits were dismissed for the much-anticipated weekend. Now it was time to recharge and come back physically and mentally ready for week six.
Subscribe to the weekly conservation officer academy blog, which also is posted weekly on the Michigan DNR Facebook page. View past blogs from Recruit School No. 7.
/Photo details: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.
Witness interviewing instruction.jpg: Instructed by Conservation Officer Jeff Ginn, recruits learned valuable witness interviewing skills.
Survival tactics training.jpg: Recruits spent three afternoons this week learning self-defense moves and how to properly search and handcuff during survival tactics training.
Pool.jpg: Recruits spend several days each week in the 12-foot-deep pool during morning physical training./
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
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