HR 318 — Commending the Virginia Conservation Police.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 23104875D I HOUSE RESOLUTION NO.

318 E N Offered February 13, 2023 Commending the Virginia Conservation Poli––––––––––Police. T Patrons––Kory and Carr R –––––––––– WHEREAS, the Virginia Conservation Police, a unit of the Department of Wildlife Resources that has greatly served the Commonwealth by promoting the management of inland fisheries, wildlife, Dnd recreational boating, celebrates its 120th anniversary in 2023;

andAgreed to by the House of Delegates, February 20, 2023 R O WHEREAS, the Virginia Conservation PolicePolice, wasa createdunit onof Maythe 14,Department 1903,of whenWildlife theResources Generalthat UL officersrecreational devotedboating, specificallycelebrates toits wildlife120th crime;anniversary in 2023;

andnandinland fisheries, wildlife, and WHEREAS, the Virginia Conservation Police was created on May 14, 1903, when the General L Assembly enacted legislation during a special session to establish a statewide system of law-enCorcementlaw-enforcementE WHEREAS,offWHEREAS, in the early days of the Virginia Conservation Police, officers, known then as gameEgame D wardens, were political appointees serving at the pleasure of local officials in their areas of assignment;

and WHEREAS, in 1916, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries was created by the General Assembly with a mandate to manage the fisheries and wildlife resources of the Commonwealth, and the officersVirginia andConservation 13Police yearsfell laterunder theits Departmentpurview; of Game and Inland Fisheries became the Department ofolice Wildlife Resources;

andin WHEREAS,2007, thegame Virginiawardens Conservationbecame Policeconservation patrolspolice aofficers vast and expansive13 jurisdictionyears tolater enforce the Commonwealth'sDepartment lawsof regulatingGame hunting, fishing, boating, and otherInland wildlifeFisheries mattersbecame and to ensHre that both citizens and visitors in the CommonwealthDepartment safelyof andH responsiblyWildlife enjoyResources; the area's exceptio3al natural resources;

and 83 WHEREAS,Commonwealth's conservationlaws policeregulating officershunting, offishing, theboating, Virginiaand Conservationother Policewildlife arematters fullyand certifiedto Commonwealth,ensure that 8 both citizens and theyvisitors alsoin servethe asCommonwealth deputysafely U.S.and responsibly enjoy the area's exceptional R natural resources;

and WHEREAS, conservation police officers of the Virginia Conservation Police are fully certified Commonwealth, and they also serve as deputy U.S.

and WHEREAS, members of the Virginia Conservation Police possess a unique array of skills that enable them to greatly assist other state and local agencies in a number of circumstances, from tracking suspects through difficult terrain to responding in the wake of a natural disaster;

andandm tracking WHEREAS, education and public outreach is a major component of the work of the Virginia :Conservation Police, as the department places a strong emphasis on serving the community while worRESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Virginia Conservation Police hereby be commended for its dedication and professionalism in protecting the Commonwealth's wildlife and natural resources on the occasion of its 120th anniversary;

35and, workingbe it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution admiration for the department's history of contributions to fulfillthe itsCommonwealth.House mission;of Delegates'

now, therefore, be itg emphasis on serving the community while 36 RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Virginia Conservation Police hereby be / 37 commended for its dedication and professionalism in protecting the Commonwealth's wildlife and natural / 38 resources on the occasion of its 120th anniversary;

and, be it 39 RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Virginia Conservation Police as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the department's history of contributions to the Commonwealth.