The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is proud to announce that Senior Officer Daniel C. Hall has been named Conservation Police Officer of the Year 2010.
Dan Hall began work for DWR in January 1988, and was assigned to Dickenson County where he was stationed for nine years. He served an area that included Russell, Tazewell, and Buchanan counties. He transferred to Smyth County in 1997.
Officer Hall came to the Department after graduating Magna Cum Laude from Wytheville Community College with an Associates Degree in Protective Services Technology with a major in Police Science. The curriculum included courses in Constitutional Law for Police; Criminal Law for Police; Criminal Justice; Fundamentals of Criminal Investigation; and more. He has continued to build on his education with additional training in Swift Water Rescue; Death Scene Investigations; DUI/OUI Investigation; Evidence Handling and Fingerprinting; Tactical Tracking Operations; and more. In addition, he has earned Field Training Officer Certification.
Senior Officer Hall’s working relationships with his coworkers as well as with others in the law enforcement community, local organizations, hunt clubs, and schools is outstanding. He has an excellent reputation for his strong work ethic and sound judgment especially in fast-moving, tense situations. Officer Hall is recognized as well for his exceptional investigative skill, many times utilizing innovative techniques which have led to hundreds of successfully prosecuted cases in Federal and State courts dealing with the illegal baiting, poisoning and taking of game birds and animals, fur bearers and Threatened and Endangered species.
Senior Officer Hall’s positive attitude and willingness to take on additional responsibilities has been a tremendous asset to the Department’s Law Enforcement personnel in his region. His expertise in evidence handling in preparation for pending court cases led to him being asked to serve as the Evidence Custodian for Region III, an area that encompasses the Southwest Virginia counties. In this capacity, he has provided much needed support to his fellow officers, even reporting to work on scheduled days off for the sole purpose of processing evidence at the DWR regional evidence storage facility. Officer Hall regularly leads his work district in educational programs conducted. He has had an integral role in Hunter Education, Kids Fishing Days, and outreach to schools. He has received letters of appreciation for his public outreach and has earned recognition from local newspapers, Congressman Rick Boucher and former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine.
For more than 22 years, Daniel Hall has served the Commonwealth of Virginia as a dedicated law enforcement officer who strives to enforce the laws fairly while promoting the Department of Wildlife Resources mission to protect and to conserve our natural resources for future generations to enjoy.
Officer Hall is an excellent representative of DWR, and the Department and the citizens of the Commonwealth have benefited greatly from his commitment to duty and outstanding efforts. It is an honor to name Senior Officer Daniel Hall as the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Conservation Police Officer of the Year 2010.