Law Enforcement
True Wildlife Crime: The Runaway Boat
A loud bang jolting a homeowner awake quickly turned into an investigation, complete with stolen trucks, DNA evidence & a suspect who couldn't dodge the truth. Watch…
New Officers Graduate 14th Natural Resources Basic Law Enforcement Academy
DWR and VMRC officially welcomed 17 new officers into the natural resources law enforcement profession. Read more…
Conservation Police Officer (CPO) Recruiting: Now Accepting Applications!
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is now accepting applications for multiple Conservation Police Officer duty assignments throughout Virginia! Read more…
True Wildlife Crime: The Striped Bass Bust at Kerr Dam
From undercover surveillance to a van full of hidden fish, this case reveals the real work and challenges that go into protecting Virginia’s natural resources. Watch…
Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Eagles and Hawks
A DWR Conservation Police Officer worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to solve the case of a man who killed more than 20 juvenile and mature bald eagles and hawks. Read more…
DWR Conservation Police Presents 2024 Awards
In a ceremony on March 19, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) Conservation Police presented their 2024 awards, recognizing exceptional efforts from Conservation Police Officers across the state. Read more…
True Wildlife Crime: The Poaching Spree That Shocked Southwest Virginia
Senior Conservation Police Officer Derrick Rickels recounts how Virginia CPOs worked across counties in Southwest Virginia to uncover a complex spotlighting operation in the summer of 2023. Watch…
The Passion Outweighs the Pronouns for Female CPOs
For the women of DWR’s Conservation Police, the uniforms might fit a bit differently, but the love of the outdoors and the desire to serve are the same. Read more…
True Wildlife Crime: Inside Virginia’s Elite K9 Team
They’re all good dogs! Virginia’s elite K9 Conservation Police teams work hard to track poachers, uncover evidence, and solve wildlife crimes across the Commonwealth. Watch…