  National Safe Boating Week is May 22-28 and serves as an opportunity for the FWC to encourage boaters to focus on simple, effective steps that make boating safer. With a comprehensive statewide communications plan that included ride-alongs, press conferences and interviews, our PICs and PIOs, along with Boating and Waterways staff, were hard at work all week long educating the public about boating safety ahead of Memorial Day weekend. Safety is never optional!
  Reef-wide outplanting of corals susceptible to stony coral tissue loss disease begins
When releasing deep-water fish, the right tools mean everything
Don’t quit hunting just because it’s summer - try wild hog hunting instead
Governor DeSantis Announces 2021 Florida Python Challenge®
Governor Ron DeSantis continues support for FWC and natural resources
First phase of artificial reef construction in northwest Florida now complete
FWC to mechanically remove floating invasive plants in Lake Kissimmee
Governor Ron DeSantis issues proclamation for Safe Boating Week in Florida
FWC and HCSO crack down on boating under the influence, resulting in 29 arrests
FWC approves new Florida Saltwater Fishing Record for whiting/kingfish
Florida boating is deadlier and holiday waters were packed. Cops were ready for the worst
Roger Young has been named the new director for the agency’s Division of Law Enforcement. Col. Young will oversee more than 1,000 employees in the FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement who protect Florida’s natural resources and provide public safety on state lands and waters.
“Colonel Curtis Brown will be retiring at the end of June after a successful 30-year career with the FWC. He has accomplished many great initiatives and has done an outstanding job of building relationships across divisions during his tenure,” said Commission Chairman Rodney Barreto. “We are confident Colonel Young will take up Colonel Brown’s standard and continue moving the division and the agency forward well into the future.”
“It has been my honor and the culminating achievement of my law enforcement career to serve as the Director of FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement,” said retiring Director Col. Curtis Brown. “A leader is only as good as his team and I am immensely proud of our team’s success. I know Roger will lead the Division to even greater triumphs in the years ahead.”
Col. Young graduated from Florida State University in 1993 with a degree in social sciences with a concentration in environmental studies. He began his conservation law enforcement career 25 years ago with the Florida Marine Patrol as an officer assigned to Taylor County and transitioned to the FWC after its creation in 1999. He promoted through the ranks and has most recently served as the regional commander of the Southwest Region since 2015.
Col. Young has graduated from the FBI National Leadership Academy, the National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Leadership Program and FDLE’s Senior Leadership Course. He is a founding member of the agency’s Special Operations Group, specializing in high-risk man tracking, dignitary protection and tactical marine operations.
“Every day our officers and staff exhibit immense professionalism and dedication in protecting the people of Florida and conserving our natural resources,” said Col. Roger Young, director of the FWC Division of Law Enforcement. “It is my honor to represent them in this capacity and it is our shared responsibility to ensure our natural resources are there for future generations to enjoy.”
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 HGM honors its award winners!
The Division of Hunting and Game Management recognized several outstanding individuals and teams for their important contributions to HGM’s mission at its annual awards ceremony. See below for a list of winners who were honored for their exemplary performance. We’re sending a special thank you to those who nominated their coworkers for awards as well as the committee – Buddy Welch (leader), LexAnn Thomas, Will Burnett, Hannah Plumpton and Tammy Sapp – that administered HGM’s annual recognition program.
Our hearty congratulations go to the following winners!
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Customer Service Award: Mark McBride (Waterfowl and Small Game Management Program) and Tony Young (HGM) were recognized for their willingness to consistently work in a positive way to increase communications and provide excellent service to stakeholders. |
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Scientific/Hunter Safety Employee of the Year: Tyler Allen (Youth Hunting Program of Florida) was recognized for his efforts to achieve division goals through his superior accomplishments in the Hunter Safety and Public Shooting Range Section. |
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Above & Beyond Award: Linda Collins (Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program) was recognized for her willingness to go beyond the call of duty to assist staff, stakeholders, partners and the public. |
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Leadership Award: Matthew Chopp (Public Hunting Areas) was recognized for his exceptional leadership and professionalism working with internal and external stakeholders and partners on wild hog management and communications. |
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Spotlight Award: Mike Kemmerer and Andrew Pope (Division of Habitat and Species Conservation, Wildlife Habitat Management Section) and Kelly Broderick (Community Relations Office) were recognized for their willingness to go beyond the call of duty to offer support and assistance to the Division of Hunting and Game Management. |
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Administrative/Operational Support Employee of the Year: Diane Sharp (Hunter Safety) was recognized for her first-class operational support in achieving division goals through her superior accomplishments in the Hunter Safety and Public Shooting Range Section. |
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Heroism/Valor: Mark Clere (Ocala Outdoor Adventure Camp) was recognized for his exemplary public service and efforts to achieve division goals. |
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Team Award: Tenoroc Public Use Area Team was recognized for their superior teamwork in making important customer service improvements in the Tenoroc Public Use Area operations and providing invaluable assistance in achieving the goals and objectives of the Hunter Safety and Public Shooting Range Section.
Greg Finenco (pictured)
Tony Radesca
Norman Xanders
Michael Barcelo
Jim Goff
Brian Lawson
Kiersten Martin
Maverick Martinez
Kimberly Watkins
Carlton Phelps
Sean Moore
Amanda Stinson
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Director’s Choice Award: Morgan Richardson (HGM) was recognized for his exemplary performance in carrying out his duties on behalf of the division’s mission as recognized by the director of the Division of Hunting and Game Management.
Safety Award: Louie Roberson (Public Shooting Ranges) was recognized for his efforts to promote safe, responsible participation in the hunting and shooting sports.
 Citizens and FWC customers were so impressed by the following employees, they told us about it through email on the "Praise an Employee" page of MyFWC.com/Contact. When your coworkers receive kudos, help share the good news by contacting Kelly.Broderick@MyFWC.com.
Bryan Ames, HSC
I would like to express my thanks to Bryan Ames for providing a wagon tour of the Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area to members of the Suncoast Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society. His knowledge of the Split Oak Forest and the plant communities within the area is outstanding. His enthusiasm for this beautiful property was evident as he provided us with a detailed history of the property and different types of plant communities within it. We enjoyed seeing so many Florida wildflowers in bloom. Bryan is an outstanding role model for the FWC. His enthusiasm and pride in his profession was certainly evident to all of us on the tour. Thank you for providing such an educational experience to our members and thank you for your work that you do in protecting Florida’s wildlife.
Sarah Barrett, HSC; Stephanie Link MFM; and Kristin Foss, MFM
Thank you for your help with my public records request. You all go above and beyond that which is required to provide exceptional public service. Best wishes.
Donna Beck, HGM (two commendations)
Donna was very efficient in finding the information I was looking for regarding alligator hunting. Very friendly and outgoing. With her help hopefully I’ll will be getting a gator soon.
When I contacted Donna a short time ago to notify the FWC of an issue with the alligator harvest unit map Ms. Beck was very cordial and helpful with my request. Sympathetic to my plight she rapidly responded to my request AND included additional materials she felt would be beneficial in my endeavor. A clearer map, links to helpful publications, and a kind, helpful demeanor make her response noteworthy. Kudos to Ms. Beck!
Kristine Campbell, HSC
I’m writing you today in regard to your phenomenal employee Kristine Campbell. On May 12, my family and I had a very unfortunate PWC incident that ended up capsizing our PWC in the middle of the lake. If it weren’t for Kristine, we would have completely lost our PWC, our sanity, and would have had to pay to recover it! There was no way we were getting out of that without her help! She was extremely patient and worked her butt off to get that PWC to the sand bar, all while keeping one of the passengers calm. She even stuck around afterwards to see if we needed any additional help when she had already done more than enough! She saved us, our PWC, and even a turtle from traffic at the end of the day. For what it’s worth, she could have completely ignored our situation (as most people did) as she was working, but she went above and beyond to help! We need more people like Kristine in the world and definitely on the water!
Officer Matthew Cushing
I am writing about FWC Officer, Matthew Cushing. Here’s what happened: I am a supervisor at Chick-fil-A in Pensacola. I was outside in our drive thru at one of our two outside payment terminals. Two guests were leaving our establishment, one of them a little older, and she missed her footing and fell on our sidewalk. The only real damage done was to her frosted coffee... because it spilled everywhere! Another coworker went over to see if she was alright but before I could even leave my position at our payment terminal, your officer was outside asking if she was okay and if she needed any medical attention. Thankfully, the only real damage done was to her beverage, she was completely fine. But your officer was in the middle of eating his hot meal, on a break, had a good view of her fall from his table apparently, and hesitated not one second to come outside and check on her. He was very calm, kind and reassuring to her. I’m not here to tell you he did CPR or something crazy like that, in fact this is rather mundane. But I still wanted to say something. I think any opportunity for leaders to recognize their kind and thoughtful employees’ actions is always encouraging to everyone involved. I know I was very thankful he was there because HAD she been injured, he was right there to help, he would’ve known exactly what to do and I wouldn't have been left by myself waiting for help to arrive. Thank you for the job well done that day specifically by Officer Cushing! Several FWC officers dine at our restaurant frequently and I've only had positive interactions with all of them - we love having them as our regulars!
Summer Locke, HGM
I called the hotline after seeing a news story on TV about the Python Challenge. I've always been a bit of a tree-hugger, and knowing about this invasive species felt like watching a news story from a video game about an alien attack, so I felt motivated to reach out. My family owns and operates Mexican restaurants in the Miami area, and I thought about offering some kind of incentive for catching Pythons or Tegus or something by offering a free appetizer for a report, or maybe a free meal completely on the house for the winner of the python challenge, or something of that nature. We opened this new restaurant just before the pandemic and had to overcome a lot of obstacles to get where we are now, so we want to do whatever we can to help! I dialed the hotline, Summer, aside from having impeccable phone etiquette, was very helpful and receptive, and made me feel a little less crazy about what I was trying to do as a small business owner. I just want to help and Summer was instrumental in helping me find the proper channels to direct my inquiries and find a way to incentivise some eco-friendly activities with our delicious mexican food!
Keith Mille, MFM
Yesterday while traveling west on Highway 98 I noticed two crane vessels offshore in near vicinity of other known Inlet Beach artificial reef modules. This was very exciting to me and my diving/fishing buddies who live on Lake Powell for we are sincere near-offshore enthusiasts (solo skiffs, kayaks, flat bottom SeaArk, john boat, Carolina skiff and paddle boards...anything we can use to fish, snorkel or dive). I quickly tried to research the activity to no avail. However, I did notice an outdated FWC article referencing Keith Mille. I elected to call Keith and honestly did not expect a return call. To the contrary, Keith called and we had the most engaging conversation highlighting all the great fish conservation and artificial reef work the FWC has been and is doing, which was so much appreciated by us local Inlet Beach offshore enthusiasts. Keith was incredibly resourceful in providing files that will be very useful to us in accessing reef modules by our meager methods. In a world where it seems the commercial and big boat operators deservedly get much of the attention and resources, it was refreshing to hear Keith’s excitement for the work being done by FWC to build and make available fishery resources to the small operators like us. Having spoken with Keith today left me with a most favorable opinion of the great work being done by the FWC. Hats off to Keith Mille and the FWC!
Lt. Daniel Miranda and Port Investigator II William Stiffler
I'm not even sure what to say. I filed a complaint assuming that nobody would respond or I would get a dismissive email. Lt. Miranda first emailed me asking for a number. He then called me almost immediately after getting my number to address my complaint as to what this agency could and couldn't do in regard to the issue I was bringing forward. He was patient, professional and respectful of my concerns without ever being dismissive. Although it wasn't an issue that could be addressed by the department due to other extenuating circumstances, I was literally blown away by the quick and personal response I received. He easily could have just emailed me and left it at that, and I would have been surprised at that alone. As a I am looking to relocate to Florida, I had a question about some of the animals I keep as pets and if they would require any special permits as I have some reptiles and I know there were a lot of changes. He offered to have one of the representatives that covers that aspect contact me and I was literally contacted by this person a short time later. The second call was equally as positive as the first. I am someone who bucks bureaucracy but I have to admit that both Lt. Miranda and William Stiffler represent the state and this agency extraordinarily well.
Officer Will Raker
would like to commend Officer Will Raker of the Carrabelle Office. On a recent trip to Carrabelle, my wife and I had a flat tire near Summer Camp. As we began to change the tire, rain began to fall. That is when Officer Raker showed up and insisted on helping change the flat IN THE RAIN! He allowed my wife (who had been holding the umbrella) to get back in the car and he immediately assisted me. With his help we quickly changed the tire. He was completely soaked when we finished! He even offered a fresh towel to me to dry off and would not accept anything for his trouble. He gave our bad situation a great and much appreciated ending! Officer Raker is an awesome ambassador for the FWC!
Officer John Shaw and Investigator Scott Sumpter
A boater on Lake Harris suffered an injury requiring medical attention. My home is on Lake Harris. The boater got my attention and I allowed him to dock his boat at my dock while I called 911. Emergency medical personnel arrived and took him to the hospital. Later that day my neighbor and I retied the boat and secured it to the dock to help prevent potentially damaging both the boat and dock. I expected to hear from the boater later that day concerning the removal of his boat but I did not hear from him either that day or the next. Finally I called the FWC and was put in contact with. I explained my concern about the removal of the boat and passed along the boat registration number to him. He stated he would look into the situation and that an FWC investigator would contact me later that day. By midafternoon FWC Investigator Scott Sumpter arrived at my home and explained that the registration number was not current and that his and Officer Shaw’s attempts to contact the owner were unsuccessful. Investigator Sumpter boarded the boat and righted a leaking gas tank and searched the boat for any items that might indicate who owned the boat. Investigator Sumpter left saying he and Officer Shaw would continue attempting to contact the owner and would contact me soon. Later that day Investigator Sumpter called and explained that, due to the diligent efforts of both he and Officer Shaw, they were able to contact the owner who promptly came and removed the boat. My dock is not built with sufficient strength to keep a boat tied up to it with the wave action we get coming across Lake Harris. My concern was that the boat would break loose from the dock or the dock would give way allowing the boat to wash ashore. My shore is lined with cypress knees that would have likely sunk the boat, potentially creating an environmental concern. Officer Shaw and Investigator Sumpter’s prompt actions in identifying the boat owner and encouraging him to remove the boat prevented this from happening. I wish to formally thank Officer Shaw, Investigator Sumpter and the FWC for being so prompt in helping me resolve this issue.
Shelby Stanley, HSC
Good afternoon, my name is Officer Gutierrez at the Everglades National Park. Last Sunday one of our popular visitation sites, Paurotis Pond, was reported to have been trashed earlier that morning, around 1 a.m. Being as we are short staffed, I went over there at 11 a.m. to assess the damage and see what I could do for cleanup. When I arrived, I found Shelby Stanley, who had gone to lengths to collect the trash and package it up to make transporting it in my patrol car easy. There were also embers from a small fire that had been lit in association with the party. Stanley had pretty much put out the fire with just the water he had for himself. I would like to give kudos to Stanley. He could have easily just left that trash, with which he was not associated, and gone on about his day. Instead, he saw a wrong and made it into a right. And all of this on his day off! It's really comforting to know that FWC has employees like that, that I am sure strive to make Florida outdoors enjoyable and sustainable for residents of Florida and its visitors.
Lt. Warren Walsingham
I was traveling on State Road 79, when the back passenger tire blew on my van. I pulled a safe distance off the road and proceeded to retrieve my spare, but was not prepared for a flat tire. With no four-way lug wrench and no jack, I was stranded with no way to change my flat tire. Then the most helpful, caring FWC Officer pulled beside me, rolled down his window and asked if something was wrong. I explained my situation and, without hesitation, he pulled up, got out his jack, his lug wrench and a spade. Within 20 minutes, he had the spare on. This guy worked hard to get me back on the road. The tire was difficult and Officer Warren was an answered prayer. In this world today. we need more people like him. He went above and beyond. He didn’t know me or even have to stop. I just wish I could give him recognition for being observant and helpful, and for getting drenched in sweat to make sure I was safely back on my way.
Officer Ronald Washington
This afternoon when I went to open my patio umbrella I noticed two small bats inside. I was frightened and did not know what to do considering I have a young child and a dog. When Ronald arrived, he was very professional and reassured us that we did the right thing by contacting FWC. Unbeknownst to me, bats are a protected species in Florida and can bite and be harmful to humans. Officer Washington immediately contacted the appropriate authority on bats who advised us on the next step. Ronald did a wonderful job of reassuring us and he represented FWC well. He was so pleasant and knowledgeable. My husband and I just wanted to say thank you Officer Washington for coming to our rescue and representing FWC so well.
The Staff at Bay County Shooting Range
We were visiting our daughter who is stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base. We reside in Virginia and are recreational shooters. We wanted to hone our skills and went to the Bay County Shooting Range. We were thoroughly impressed by the staff and the range. The range is maintained to exemplary standards, the staff very professional and courteous. We were thrilled to be able to shoot at the range. In fact, we were so impressed that we made three trips during our stay here. Kudos to all that work there.
 Congratulations to the following employees for reaching 5-year milestones of employment with the FWC.
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