Chadwick named WDFW Officer of the Year

OLYMPIA - Dan Chadwick, a fish and wildlife enforcement and field-training officer, has been named statewide Officer of the Year by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

Chadwick, who is stationed in Ilwaco, received the top law enforcement award from WDFW supervisors and fellow officers for his work in Pacific County and the department's marine unit.

In that time, Chadwick made 206 arrests and issued 44 written warnings in cases that involved a wide range of activities, including commercial fishing violations and big game poaching. He has been a WDFW officer for nearly six years.

"Whether it is a marine-related or a land-base challenge, Dan steps up to it," wrote Capt. Mike Cenci, who nominated Chadwick as WDFW's statewide Officer of the Year. "His dedication to the job, positive attitude, tenacity and superior patrol and investigative skills have all contributed to his success in case work and his value as a fish and wildlife officer."

Before joining WDFW in 2000, Chadwick was a deputy with Adams and Whatcom counties. Chadwick, 32, also serves as the president of the Washington Game Warden Association.

"Dan is an outstanding fish and wildlife officer," said Chief Bruce Bjork, who heads WDFW's enforcement program. "He's a top-notch field-training officer, who serves as a role model for newly recruited officers. We are very lucky to have Dan as a member of our enforcement team."

Chadwick is the recipient of the Shikar-Safari International Wildlife Officer of the Year award for 2005.

"With the high caliber of people within the enforcement program, I am very honored to be selected as Officer of the Year," Chadwick said. "We have great officers, and I thank them for what I have learned and will continue to learn from them."