Trapping and test prep – the week before graduation
 Week 21: May 22-28
Recruits returned to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officer academy at 6 p.m. Sunday, May 22, ready for a very busy week. With only two weeks left of the academy and graduation in sight, recruits are almost there. They see the end of the academy – and the beginning of much more – in sight. Still, many important training components remain, including trapping enforcement and prep for what will be their most important test – the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) exam. They must pass the exam to receive their law enforcement license. Without it, all of their hard work up to this point will have been for naught.
River cleanup
After arriving back at the academy Sunday, the recruits, along with recruit school commander Sgt. Jason Wicklund and Cpl. Todd Thorn, co-assistant recruit school commander, traveled to Moores Park, located along the Grand River in Lansing.
 They spent the evening on another volunteer service project – cleaning debris from that section of the Grand River. With trash bags and waders, the recruits and academy staff walked the river, traversing from the dam to over a mile downstream. They removed a 55-gallon drum, metal pallets, old clothing, fishing tackle and more. Recruits gave the fishing tackle to children fishing along the many docks.
Preparing for the ultimate test
Recruits began Monday morning classroom time early. At 6 a.m., they were seated in the classroom, ready for instruction by an MCOLES representative. The rep went over the importance of the MCOLES exam, how to register for it, and the test-taking process and procedures.
Ethical standards
DNR Law Enforcement Division Assistant Chief Dean Molnar followed the discussion with a four-hour class on police ethics.
“As a law enforcement officer holding a position of this stature, you’ll need to adhere to the highest ethical standards,” Assistant Chief Molnar told the recruits. “Ethics is a combination of laws, training and standards that are essential to always maintaining and displaying appropriate behavior.”
 Trapping enforcement
That afternoon, recruits began a 16-hour course on trapping enforcement. Instructed by conservation officer (CO) Joel Lundberg of Midland County and CO Rich Stowe of Grand Traverse County, the recruits spent considerable time learning about traps, the legal and illegal setting of traps, trapping basics and equipment and animal trapping methods.
That afternoon they headed to the Windsor State Game Area, located within walking distance of the Michigan State Police Training Facility. Recruits learned how to locate trails for animals and trappers, what to look for to find hidden trap locations, and how to set traps in areas where they would be successful. Recruits also learned the importance of the 24-hour and 72-hour trap check laws, designed to prevent animal suffering.
 “The more than 30,000 Michigan trappers put a lot of forethought and time into ensuring their success, and they take pride in their hard work,” Sgt. Wicklund said. “As conservation officers, we are cognizant of that hard work and so train to effectively locate traps, enforce laws and respect the trappers, their equipment and their time and effort put into trapping.”
Fit for life
The recruits rose early Wednesday to travel to nearby Howell High School for Fit for Duty testing. The voluntary physical fitness program was implemented to assist conservation officers in developing a wellness program for life. Although voluntary, all recruits took advantage of the program.
“When the recruits leave the academy, it’s very important that they maintain a healthy lifestyle,” Sgt. Wicklund said. “That healthy lifestyle started on day one of the academy, but it doesn’t end on day 154 when they graduate. It must continue every day for life.”
Sgt. Wicklund noted that as conservation officers, a sedentary lifestyle will lead to injuries and time lost at work. “And that equates to less time protecting Michigan’s citizens and its natural resources,” he said.
 Navigation know-how
After lunch, the recruits headed outdoors once again to the Maple River State Game Area, located in Gratiot County. Land navigation was on the agenda for the afternoon. Instructed by Cpl. Brad Dohm, the recruits learned how to obtain their pace (step) count for keeping track of distance traveled, use a compass and navigate to a series of predetermined points.
“Conservation officers spend considerable time in the woods, and so when batteries fail on GPS units – because they will – the officers will still know how to navigate back safely,” Sgt. Wicklund said. “Most conservation officers have been on search and rescue or recovery missions where they have used navigational skills to respond quickly to an emergency and save lives.”
Preliminary investigations of death
Recruits spent Thursday at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing learning about preliminary investigations of death.
“During their careers, conservation officers will be involved in situations involving deceased persons,” Sgt. Wicklund said. “When this occurs, it’s of the utmost importance for the officers to remain professional and take the necessary steps for both the victim and their family.”
They were instructed on what to look for at a location where a death has occurred, how to preserve the scene and how to conduct proper notification of death. The recruits then traveled to the morgue where they observed an autopsy.
Public speaking and public relations
Assistant Chief Molnar was back in the classroom Thursday morning to instruct recruits on public speaking/public relations best practices. Because officers often speak at a variety of functions during their careers – from banquets to outdoor shows to school classrooms – they must become comfortable speaking in front of an audience while remaining professional, courteous and concise.
After instruction, each recruit performed a five-minute impromptu presentation in front of their peers and instructors.
Recruits hit the books all day Friday – studying for the coming week’s very important MCOLES licensing exam – before they were dismissed for a long Memorial Day weekend. The studying would continue for the next three days. On Tuesday, they would report back to the academy to take their MCOLES exam and, on Friday, June 3, they graduate from the academy. Their graduation will mark the start of 18 weeks of field training and the next chapter of their lives.
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. Intermittent posts will continue after graduation.
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/Photo details: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.
River cleanup volunteers.jpg: Recruits spent Sunday evening on a volunteer community service project – removing debris and trash from a section of the Grand River at Moores Park in Lansing.
River cleanup group.jpg: During a volunteer river cleanup, recruits removed a 55-gallon drum, metal pallets, old clothing, fishing tackle and more from a section of the Grand River at Moores Park in Lansing.
Trapping.jpg: Recruits examined different kinds of traps during trapping enforcement training.
Fit for Life.jpg: Recruits all participated in the Fit for Life program, a voluntary physical fitness program implemented to assist conservation officers in developing a wellness program for life. Program testing took place at nearby Howell High School.
Navigation Training.jpg: Recruits crossed the Maple River in the Maple River State Game Area during land navigation 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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