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NCwRC sTRATEGIC REORGANIzATION: Al igning work with vision

The Law Enforcement section of NCWRC recently imple-mented a more effective and efficient operational protocol resulting from recommendations indicated by an agency-wide, ongoing administrative review. Here is a summary of changes to date:

In June of 2011, the Division was authorized to fully implement a new district organization that included one lieutenant rather than two in each district. This implementation will be made as retirements and promotions create vacancies in lieutenant positions. As of August 2012, this structure has been implemented in six of the nine districts. Concurrent with this new lieutenant organization, the Division has also reduced the number of airplane pilots from four to three. Restructuring in this manner addresses the goals of the agency’s strategic planning and organizational review processes by examining efficiencies, eliminating redundancies, and enhancing effectiveness within current boundaries of fiscal and staff resources.

As a result of these reductions in supervisory staff, four new Wildlife Enforcement Officer positions have been allocated to the field in areas of the state with the greatest need for additional personnel. A special investigations unit was created that will focus its efforts on the commercialization of wildlife (trafficking) and other investigations that are time sensitive. “This is a total of seven positions that were once largely administrative in nature being reallocated to field positions where the true law enforce-ment work is being done.”

North Carol ina Wi ldl i fe Resources Commi ss ion • 7

THE vAlUE Of

wIlDlIfE lAw ENfORCEMENT

N.C. Wildlife Enforcement Offcers annually conduct, on average:

• 300 free Pre-launch Boating Safety Checks • 100+ free Boating Safety Courses

• 1100 free (required) Hunter Education Courses • 236,000 checks for safety and compliance.

Pre-launch safety checks help boaters prevent accidents and expensive fines. Not having an operational fire extinguisher on board, for example, can mean a $35 fine and $180 in court costs. Boating Safety Courses can prevent even costlier experiences. Operating a vessel in a reckless or negligent manner can not only mean a substantial fine but can result in imprisonment. N.C. Wildlife Enforcement works to eliminate non-com-pliance of state regulations by concentrating on safety awareness and education.

ON THE ROAD, ON THE wATER— DON’T DRINk AND DRIvE!

This is a partnership campaign with NCWRC Law Enforcement, N.C. State Highway Patrol , N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement, N.C. Forensic Tests for Alcohol and N.C. Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Partnerships such as this one are efficient and effective for all agencies and have greater impact.

The results of this awareness and enforcement campaign indicate that arrests for operating a boat on the water while intoxicated have gone down 29% over 3 years.

GEOFF CANTRELL /NCWRC MELISSA McGAW/NCWRC