The purpose of the O.P.S. Challenge Coin is to establish a field-level initiative and tradition to formally recognize on a continual basis those citizens in the Commonwealth who have gone above and beyond to aid and assist the efforts of our law enforcement officers in their duties to uphold the DWR Mission as “Protectors of Virginia’s Wildlife and Natural Resources”.
Those who receive a sequentially-numbered O.P.S. Protector Challenge Coin and appear on this special roll have been nominated by Conservation Police Officers (CPOs) currently serving on the frontlines, and were then approved by the Law Enforcement O.P.S. Advisory Council.
The first sequentially-numbered Law Enforcement ⭑ O.P.S. #1 Protector Challenge Coin is displayed at DWR Headquarters as Posthumous Recognition of our most dedicated protectors prior to the establishment of this special recognition program during the 115th Anniversary of the Law Enforcement Division.
O.P.S. Protector Challenge Coin Database
Initial Set of Recipients (July 17, 2018):
Note: The top four coin recipients (numbers 2 to 5) were chosen as the most worthy candidates for each region and then were selected according to the most deserving being awarded the lowest numbered coin. All other recipients were randomly drawn for their assigned coin numbers.
| Coin # | Recipient’s Full Name | County | District | Recipient Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #2 | David Jack Ratliff | Dickenson | 34 | July 17, 2018 |
| #3 | Bruce Cauthorn | Hanover | 17 | July 17, 2018 |
| #4 | Michael Rolband | Prince William | 47 | July 17, 2018 |
| #5 | John Honaker | Bedford | 22 | July 17, 2018 |
| #6 | Dennis S. Veach | Frederick | 41 | July 17, 2018 |
| #7 | Steve Holt Sr. | Campbell | 23 | July 17, 2018 |
| #8 | D.C. Duncan | Montgomery | 31 | July 17, 2018 |
| #9 | Floyd Fields | Washington | 33 | July 17, 2018 |
| #10 | Ron Davis | Grayson | 32 | July 17, 2018 |
| #11 | Jesse Battle Harrell | Greensville | 14 | July 17, 2018 |
| #12 | Terry Cable | Cumberland | 24 | July 17, 2018 |
| #13 | Diana O’Connor | Richmond | 11 | July 17, 2018 |
| #14 | Craig Karpinski | Mecklenburg | 25 | July 17, 2018 |
| #15 | C.W. Miller | Gloucester | 16 | July 17, 2018 |
| #16 | Aaron Clifford Grimsley | Fauquier | 46 | July 17, 2018 |
| #17 | Cheryl Cockram | Franklin | 21 | July 17, 2018 |
| #18 | Dino Costa | Spotsylvania | 45 | July 17, 2018 |
| #19 | Ricky Thompson | Suffolk | 13 | July 17, 2018 |
| #20 | Doug Gray | Accomack | 12 | July 17, 2018 |
| #21 | James Poole | Rockbridge | 43 | July 17, 2018 |
| #22 | Jack Lee | New Kent | 15 | July 17, 2018 |
| #23 | Charlie Martin | Rockingham | 42 | July 17, 2018 |
| #24 | Richard L. Wharam | Albemarle | 44 | July 17, 2018 |
Recipients 2018–present
| Coin # | Recipient’s Full Name | County | District | Recipient Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #25 | Bill Ward | Wythe | 32 | January 22, 2019 |
| #26 | Darin Dick | Accomack | 12 | January 22, 2019 |
| #27 | Russell Holland | Brunswick | 25 | January 22, 2019 |
| #28 | Bryan McGraw | Highland | 42 | January 22, 2019 |
| #29 | Jack Van Zant | Scott | 34 | January 22, 2019 |
| #30 | David Straughan Robinson III | King William | 16 | January 22, 2019 |
| #31 | Tim Hall | Fairfax | 47 | January 22, 2019 |
| #32 | Billy Gray | Chesapeake | 13 | January 22, 2019 |
| #33 | Judy Jones | Spotsylvania | 45 | January 22, 2019 |
| #34 | Steve Peters | Franklin | 21 | January 22, 2019 |
| #35 | John Richard Wingfield IV | Albemarle | 44 | January 22, 2019 |
| #36 | Mark Fike | King George | 11 | January 22, 2019 |
| #37 | James R. Anderson | Washington | 33 | January 22, 2019 |
| #38 | Curtis Lowe | Nelson | 23 | January 22, 2019 |
| #39 | Billy Apperson | James City | 15 | January 22, 2019 |
| #40 | Jim Brech | Culpeper | 46 | January 22, 2019 |
| #41 | Bennett Meador | Prince Edward | 24 | January 22, 2019 |
| #42 | Dale Runyon | Bedford | 22 | January 22, 2019 |
| #43 | Larry & Karen Fisher | Dinwiddie | 17 | January 22, 2019 |
| #44 | George P. Mason | Shenandoah | 41 | January 22, 2019 |
| #45 | Charles Welder Stultz, Jr. | Pulaski | 31 | January 22, 2019 |
| #46 | Travis B. Latimer | Isle of Wight | 14 | January 22, 2019 |
| #47 | Monte Alan Jessee | Rockbridge | 43 | January 22, 2019 |
| #48 | Daniel Orlando Olayvar, Jr. | Pulaski | 31 | July 16, 2019 |
| #49 | Brandon C. Basar | Westmoreland | 11 | July 16, 2019 |
| #50 | Grayson Chesser | Accomack | 12 | July 16, 2019 |
| #51 | Ashley Nichole Allen | Isle of Wight | 14 | July 16, 2019 |
| #52 | Charles T. Wright | Fluvanna | 44 | July 16, 2019 |
| #53 | Jon & Caroline Lamb | Charles City | 15 | July 16, 2019 |
| #54 | Mike Boitnott | Spotsylvania | 45 | July 16, 2019 |
| #55 | Pearl Carter | Prince William | 47 | July 16, 2019 |
| #56 | Patrick Rice | Mecklenburg | 25 | July 16, 2019 |
| #57 | Reginald W. Nelson | Henrico | 17 | July 16, 2019 |
| #58 | Brian Keith Anderson | Buckingham | 24 | July 16, 2019 |
| #59 | Eric J. Winther | Suffolk | 13 | July 16, 2019 |
| #60 | Joe Musick | Tazewell | 33 | July 16, 2019 |
| #61 | John Franklin Vanover | Dickenson | 34 | July 16, 2019 |
| #62 | Art T. Kasson | Warren | 41 | July 16, 2019 |
| #63 | Rick Helton | Gloucester | 16 | July 16, 2019 |
| #64 | Franklin Taylor | Bath | 43 | July 16, 2019 |
| #65 | Wade Baughan | Culpeper | 46 | July 16, 2019 |
| #66 | Randall Hensley | Rockingham | 42 | July 16, 2019 |
| #67 | Tommy Lawhorne | Waynesboro | 42 | April 21, 2020 |
| #68 | Kendra Pednault | Richmond | 11 | April 21, 2020 |
| #69 | Robert James | Carroll | 32 | April 21, 2020 |
| #70 | Lloyd C. Winters | Frederick | 41 | April 21, 2020 |
| #71 | Russell & Mary Ann Hancock | Southhampton | 14 | April 21, 2020 |
| #72 | Gareth Williams | Prince William | 47 | April 21, 2020 |
| #73 | Scott Woody | Hanover | 17 | April 21, 2020 |
| #74 | Erich F. Krause | Goochland | 44 | April 21, 2020 |
| #75 | William Newton Tharpe | Charlotte | 25 | April 21, 2020 |
| #76 | Wesley A. Dew | Alleghany | 43 | April 21, 2020 |
| #77 | Ward Burton | Halifax | SOP | April 21, 2020 |
| #78 | Stephen Grant Farris | Smythe | 33 | April 21, 2020 |
| #79 | Ernest Vaughn | King & Queen | 16 | April 21, 2020 |
| #80 | David P. Mason | Shenandoah | 41 | October 20, 2020 |
| #81 | Justin Halder | Prince George | 15 | October 20, 2020 |
| #82 | Richard O. Earhart | Fluvanna | 44 | October 20, 2020 |
| #83 | Kimberly Cameron | Louisa | 45 | October 20, 2020 |
| #84 | Steven W. Davis | Westmoreland | 11 | October 20, 2020 |
| #85 | William Reay | Gloucester | 16 | October 20, 2020 |
| #86 | Barry Andrew Thompson | Henrico | 17 | October 20, 2020 |
| #87 | Bill Burket | Norfolk | 13 | October 20, 2020 |
| #88 | Vernie C. Kennedy | Bedford | 22 | June 22, 2021 |
| #89 | Steve McCormick | Appomattox | 23 | June 22, 2021 |
| #90 | Todd McCormick | Appomattox | 23 | June 22, 2021 |
| #91 | Jason L. Mozingo | Northumberland | 11 | June 22, 2021 |
| #92 | Steve Edwards | Isle of Wight | 14 | June 22, 2021 |
| #93 | Tracy L. Freeman | Norfolk | 13 | June 22, 2021 |
| #94 | Jennifer D. Lindsey | Stafford | 45 | June 22, 2021 |
| #95 | Michelle Silver | Albemarle | 44 | June 22, 2021 |
| #96 | Tanya Joye Lovern | Danville | 21 | June 22, 2021 |
| #97 | Steven Williams | Gloucester | 16 | June 22, 2021 |
| #98 | Arthur Mertz | Hampton | 15 | June 22, 2021 |
| #99 | Dwight Farmer | Shenandoah | 41 | June 22, 2021 |
| #100 | Robert “Bob” William Kelly | Highland | 42 | June 22, 2021 |
| #101 | Skylar Huffman | Fauquier | 46 | October 2021 |
| #102 | Christopher Hapsas | Loudoun | 47 | October 2021 |
| #103 | Nathan Wenger | Augusta | 42 | October 2021 |
| #104 | Machaela Curry | Spotsylvania | 45 | October 2021 |
| #105 | Mark Slade | Pittsylvania | 21 | May 25, 2022 |
| #106 | David Wease | Prince William | 47 | February 21, 2023 |
| #107 | Gerald Keith Andrews | Grayson | 32 | February 21, 2023 |
| #108 | Frank Shannon | Stafford | 45 | February 21, 2023 |
| #109 | Mason Basten | Amherst | 23 | October 25, 2023 |
| #110 | Allen Dunn | Prince William | 44 | October 25, 2023 |
| #111 | Frank Poe | Nottoway | 24 | October 25, 2023 |
| #112 | Jeff Phillips | City of Richmond | 22 | April 2024 |
| #113 | Robert Baker | Shenandoah | 41 | April 2024 |
| #114 | Lenny Williams | Alleghany | 42 | April 2024 |
| #115 | Scott Favors | Stafford | 45 | April 2024 |
| #116 | Wayne Billlhimer | Rockingham | Spec Ops | April 2024 |