DNR's Mike Hammill named Officer of the Year by Shikar-Safari Club
Michigan Department of Natural Resources sent this bulletin at 03/20/2013 03:35 PM EDT
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20, 2013
Contact: Lt. Skip Hagy, 906-293-5131; Ed Golder, 517-353-3014
DNR conservation officer Mike Hammill named
Wildlife Officer of the Year by Shikar-Safari Club
Department of Natural Resources conservation officer Mike Hammill has been named the Shikar-Safari Club’s 2012 Wildlife Officer of the Year. The award is given annually by the international hunting group to a conservation officer in all 50 states, 10 Canadian provinces and the territories of both nations.
In earning this award, Hammill also captured the DNR Law Enforcement Divison title as 2012 Conservation Officer of the Year. Both awards were presented to Hammill at last week’s regular meeting of the Natural Resources Commission in Saginaw.
“I feel real humbled just being nominated for the award,” said Hammill, who works in Luce County. “There are a lot of officers who are super hard-working and just as deserving as I am. I feel very fortunate to be selected this year. It’s pretty cool.”
A native of Crystal Falls, Mich., Hammill joined the DNR in 2002 and has worked on the east end of the Upper Peninsula most of his career.
Hammill is “a highly motivated, highly dedicated officer,” said Lt. Skip Hagy, his supervisor.
“Mike is well respected by his peers and the public in general,” Hagy said. “He does an excellent job of balancing the spirit and intent of the law. He is the poster child for law enforcement and very deserving of this award.”
The Shikar-Safari Club International was founded in 1952 by an international group of hunters interested in exchanging ideas about the sport. Safari Club International is devoted to protecting hunters’ rights and promoting wildlife conservation worldwide.
/Note to editors: A photo to accompany this story is available for download below.
Suggested caption: Department of Natural Resources conservation officer Mike Hammill was named the Shikar-Safari Club’s 2012 Wildlife Officer of the Year, as well as the DNR Law Enforcement Division’s Conservation Officer of the Year. He accepted his awards at last week’s meeting of the Natural Resources Commission in Saginaw. Pictured here (L to R) are: Hammill’s stepmother, Julie; his son and wife, Chase and Christina; NRC commissioner Louise Klarr; NRC chair J.R. Richardson; Officer Hammill; his father, Jim; DNR Director Keith Creagh; and DNR Law Enforcement Division Chief Gary Hagler./