FWC News Release: FWC names 2015 Officer of the Year

For immediate release: February 24, 2015

Media contact: Lauren McCormack, 850-688-7518

 

Suggested Tweet: Local #MiamiDade officer named #FWC2015 #officer of the year https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLFFWCC/bulletins/f36baa #LawEnforcement

 

Photos available on FWC’s Flickr site: Go to https://flic.kr/s/aHsk8FwpAB.

 

FWC names 2015 Officer of the Year

 

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) named Officer George Reynaud its 2015 Officer of the Year.

Born and raised in Miami-Dade County, where he now patrols, Reynaud uses his local knowledge to protect the resources and people in his community. He makes a positive impact both on- and off-duty and his actions set an example that reaches statewide.

“Officer Reynaud’s dedication to resource issues and public safety make him an ideal FWC officer,” said Col. Curtis Brown, the FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement director. “He has made a difference in his patrol area and we’re proud to have him representing the FWC.”

Reynaud received his 100-ton Master Captain license and worked on a ferry at Fisher Island after high school. There, he watched FWC officers in action and decided he wanted to pursue that dream as well. In 2011, he attended the FWC academy just outside of Tallahassee before returning home to South Florida.

As a part of the Miami-Dade County Boating Under the Influence Task Force, he works with fellow FWC officers and federal, state and local partner agencies to target BUIs and improve boating safety. Reynaud’s efforts help stop impaired boaters before they can injure themselves or others.

“His knowledge and experience in marine fisheries laws and rules, saltwater fishing techniques and boat handling have made him an excellent resource to the public and other officers in the area,” said Lt. Jose Escabi. “Officer Reynaud is available to all who call upon him at any hour of the day or night.”

Another of Reynaud’s accomplishments is being selected to work in plainclothes for specific details, and his efforts have supported Florida’s commercial fishing industry. He has caught poachers using unmarked and unlicensed crab and lobster traps, spearing undersized lobster, selling lobster illegally to local businesses and using illegal lobster structures known as casitas.

“He has used his local knowledge to develop relationships with members of the public,” Escabi said. “They continue to provide valuable information to him about illegal activities in the area.”

Off the water, Reynaud continues his efforts to make his community a better place. In 2014, he founded a youth-mentoring organization. He spends his free time volunteering with the program to help at-risk juveniles. Supervisors praise his efforts in and out of uniform, describing him as a humble, respectful individual.

"It's a blessing to be able to do what I love with an agency like the FWC that is committed to serving the public through many different avenues," Reynaud said.

To learn more about what Officer Reynaud does, follow his activities on Twitter this Friday, Feb. 27, @MyFWCLife at #FWC2015. To learn more about becoming an FWC officer, visit MyFWC.com/Get-Involved.

 

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