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Law Enforcement Supporters of the DWR Mission

A graphic representation of a challenge coin that reads: Wildlife and Natural Resources Protector

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