The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division became the third conservation law enforcement agency to earn the North American Wildlife Law Enforcement Accreditation (NAWLEA) on April 22.
The other two agencies to achieve NAWLEA are the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Division of Law Enforcement and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Law Enforcement Section.
This distinction places the LDWF Enforcement Division among a select group of conservation law-enforcement agencies that have demonstrated compliance with more than 70 rigorous, nationally accepted standards specifically developed for the profession.
“Achieving initial accreditation through the North American Wildlife Law Enforcement Accreditation program reflects the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ commitment to professionalism, accountability, and excellence in conservation law enforcement,” said Col. John Cobb of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and Chairman of the NAWLEA Board of Directors. “This milestone demonstrates their dedication to operating at the highest standards in service to the public and the natural resources they protect.”
This accreditation marks a significant milestone that reflects the LDWF Enforcement Division’s continued commitment to professionalism, accountability, public trust, and modern conservation law-enforcement operations.
“Achieving this national accreditation is a historic milestone for our Enforcement Division and for conservation law enforcement in our state,” said Col. Stephen Clark, head of the LDWF Enforcement Division. “Our agents and staff have devoted countless hours to reviewing, strengthening and modernizing our policies and operations to ensure we meet the highest national standards.”
NAWLEA accreditation is a comprehensive process that evaluates agencies against nationally recognized standards governing written directives, operational practices, training, supervision, and accountability. These standards were developed by experienced wildlife law-enforcement professionals from across North America and reflect best practices specific to conservation law enforcement.
The accreditation effort required a multi-year, agency-wide effort and included a complete review, revision, and modernization of all Enforcement Division policies and procedures. The process also included extensive documentation development, training validation, and operational assessment. Independent NAWLEA assessors conducted on-site evaluations, personnel interviews, and operational observations to verify compliance with accreditation requirements.
