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The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has announced promotions for three Upper Peninsula conservation officers to fill vacant sergeants’ positions in the region.
The promotions of Grant Emery, Michael Hammill and Jerrold Fitzgibbon in the U.P. were among a total of eight officer promotions and three lateral transfers of sergeants statewide, effective June 21.
“The past two years have been a time of rebuilding for the Law Enforcement Division of the DNR,” said Lt. Pete Wright, who oversees three sergeants and law enforcement operations in the western U.P. from his office in Marquette.
“With the graduation of the last two academies, we now have another 58 officers in the field,” Wright said. “This has allowed us to begin to fill vacancies that have been left empty for years due to retirements and promotions.”
Wright said statewide the eight conservation officers were promoted to the sergeant rank to maintain an adequate supervisory span of control.
These first-line supervisors will coordinate the activities of a group of conservation officers within a given work area.
Emery, who had been working as a conservation officer in Gogebic County, will now oversee five conservation officers working throughout Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties.
Emery is a 15-year veteran of the DNR and worked previously as a police officer with the Manistique Public Safety Department in Schoolcraft County.
“He brings years of field experience, expertise and practical knowledge into his new position as an area law supervisor,” Wright said.
In the eastern U.P., Hammill will be supervising five officers working in Chippewa, Luce and Mackinac counties.
Hammill has been a lifelong resident of the U.P. and is the son of former DNR wildlife biologist Jim Hammill. He was hired by the DNR Law Enforcement Division in 2002.
“Mike has worked all of his years with the DNR in Luce County, except for a short assignment in Gogebic County in 2005,” said Lt. Skip Hagy, who supervises two sergeants and oversees law enforcement operations in the eastern U.P. from the DNR’s Newberry office.
Fitzgibbon is a 20-year veteran of the DNR and has worked in Alger County since 1995. He will oversee day-to-day activities of five officers working in Alger, Delta and Schoolcraft counties.
“He brings years of field experience and practical knowledge into his new position,” Hagy said.
On June 5, 37 recruits graduated from the DNR’s conservation officer training academy in Lansing. Those recruits currently are undergoing 18 weeks of field training, partnered with more experienced conservation officers.
At the end of the field training, the DNR will announce the conservation officers’ county assignments.
The most recent academy was funded in the DNR budget through a General Fund appropriation providing 25 new positions approved by the Legislature and Gov. Rick Snyder and nine new positions funded by hunting and fishing license revenue. The remaining positions were previously funded positions that replace officers who recently have retired or left the division.
“The hiring and promotions of conservation officers over the past year and a half have certainly aided us in being able to successfully continue our mission to protect and preserve our state’s natural resources for current and future generations and to provide for the safety and welfare of the public,” Wright said.
A new recruit school is scheduled to convene at the academy in January.
To learn more about law enforcement job opportunities and the DNR conservation officer academy, visit the DNR website www.michigan.gov/conservationofficers.
