(KNSI) – Minnesota is getting a fresh crop of conservation officers to patrol its lakes, woods and fields.
Eighteen people graduated from the 21st Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Academy this week. The graduates already have spread out across the state and will spend the next several months field training with experienced officers before moving to their assigned stations.
After field training, a conservation officer will be assigned to St. Cloud and another to Sauk Rapids.
The officers have a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. Some are veterans, while others left jobs as police officers to join the DNR. Others worked as firefighters or dispatchers. Some had no previous law enforcement experience, coming to the DNR via the Conservation Officer Prep program.
According to the DNR, each graduate was chosen from among hundreds of applicants and underwent rigorous examinations, psychological profiles and background checks before beginning the academy.
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