The Maryland Natural Resources Police Reserve Officer Program
The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) serves as a public safety agency with statewide authority whose mission is to preserve and protect Maryland’s natural resources through enforcement of conservation, boating and criminal laws, as well as to provide primary law enforcement services for Maryland state parks, forests and public lands owned and managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The agency is also responsible for maritime and rural search and rescue operations and is designated as the state’s lead agency for homeland security matters on Maryland waters.
The Natural Resources Police Reserve Officer Program consists of a group of civic-minded volunteers who believe in and are willing to support the mission of the NRP utilizing their skills, expertise and interests. Reserve Officers (RO’s) are not sworn law enforcement officials and thereby do not have powers of arrest. Their role is handling non-law enforcement assignments that would otherwise have been performed by commissioned police officers such as; community and public relations outreach programs, awareness and education programs regarding boating and hunting safety, search and rescue operations, vehicle and vessel operation and maintenance, and courtesy boat inspections. RO’s are provided the training and equipment necessary to fulfill the above assignments. Additionally, RO’s may qualify for a State of Maryland tax credit relating to the hours they perform in a given tax year (certain restrictions / eligibility provisions apply).
Maryland Natural Resources Police Volunteer Search and Rescue Teams
The NRP Reserve Search Unit (RSU) is a specialized group of Reserve Officers trained in search and rescue. The RSU performs a number of search functions including locating lost hikers, elderly and missing children and investigative searches. Our reserve officers train in a variety of conditions and are specialists in land navigation, crime scene preservation, tracking, and search tactics. From high-profile criminal cases to missing dementia patients, the Reserve Search Unit is always on-call to assist with locating missing people. We are always seeking dedicated people to join our team.
Reserve Officer Qualifications
To become a Reserve Officer applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Age 18 or older
- U.S. Citizen
- No felony convictions
- No natural resources or other misdemeanor convictions within the last five years
- Possess a valid driver’s license and have a good driving record
- Occupation or part-time employment must not conflict with the agency’s mission, policies, and lawful mandate
- Be willing to and capable of performing a minimum of 100 hours of non-financially compensated service annually
- Have a home telephone and/or a mobile cellular phone
- Have access to the internet and electronic mail capability
- Be willing to submit to a background investigation to include: a natural resources violation check, motor vehicle driving records check, fingerprint/criminal record check
- Applicants must complete an application and may be required to attend an oral interview with the Regional Administrator or a designee.
Contact your regions Reserve Officer Coordinator for your county to request information and an application to the program.
Reserve Officer Coordinator
Anna Dahlstrom (Southern/Eastern)
305 Marine Academy Drive Suite 1, Stevensville, MD 21666
Email:
anna.dahlstrom@maryland.gov Cell: 443-223-2755
Become a Maryland Hunter Education Instructor
Over 7,000 novice hunters are trained each year in safe and responsible hunting practices by teams of dedicated volunteer instructors. Maryland's Hunter Education Program is one of the best in the country because instructors are dedicated to continuing the hunting heritage and insuring that first time hunters have the knowledge, skills and attitude to be a safe and responsible in the field.
The Hunter Education Program is seeking new instructor teams to teach the course. Instructors must have three years of hunting experience, the ability to work with youngsters and the desire to provide quality training to hunters. Prospective educators must complete an application, pass a background investigation and attend an instructor training program. Sporting clubs are encouraged to develop a team from interested members. Teams that commit to teaching a minimum of three classes a year will be provided with an instructor training program at their facility.
Help ensure the future of hunting by becoming a member of our elite corps of Maryland Hunter Education Instructors. For further information contact Maryland's Hunter Education Program at 410-643-8502
