As I See It By Rodney Barreto, Chairman Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

FWC Officer’s Shooting Reflects Dangers of Conservation Law Enforcement

If you ask law enforcement officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) about their job, in the mix of describing what they do, they likely will say they love the work that they do.  Their work to protect natural resources is important and meaningful; they want to contribute to society and make their community, state and world a better place.

Undeniably, their jobs are unique, rewarding and adventurous, but there is also an element of danger.  We were all reminded recently of how dangerous law enforcement is, especially conservation law enforcement, after FWC Officer Vann Streety was shot multiple times while investigating a suspicious situation and attempting to arrest a man on a warrant for traffic violations.

Officer Streety was on routine patrol – which is an oxymoron, because by the very nature of law enforcement it is never routine.  Streety was doing what officers do on patrol:  searching for evidence of crimes or criminals and working to make the woods, waters, communities and anything in between safe.  Hundreds of times, Officer Streety would have been in a similar situation – checking out something that didn’t seem quite right.  This time, though, when the gunsmoke cleared, the officer was seriously wounded and the perpetrator was on the run.

What ensued was a manhunt for the shooter by many law enforcement agencies.  Fortunately, a few days after the shooting, a Melbourne Beach police officer caught the suspect as he was breaking into a vehicle.

While some may imagine the work of a conservation officer involves sunny days among butterflies, mellow animals and happy-to-see-you people, in reality many days are not so sunny and neither animals nor people are happy to see them.  Although officers may enjoy their jobs – nonetheless, it involves risk.

The very nature of conservation law enforcement is especially dangerous.  Conservation officers can enforce every law of the state – not just fish and wildlife laws.  Therefore, when they encounter something suspicious they don’t call it in or walk away; they investigate it.  Conservation officers are typically by themselves; backup may be many miles away; and they are mostly in remote areas in the woods or on the water.  Still, they do the job, because it needs to be done and they are the type that gets the job done.

Officer Vann Streety survived.  I, on behalf of the FWC, would like to thank all of the law enforcement agencies who assisted Vann on the evening he was shot and assisted in the search for the shooter.  We would also like to thank the paramedics, the hospital and other medical personnel who kept Vann with us.  He is a fine man, and we would have hated to lose him.  Equally appreciated were the many agencies, private and non-profit organizations who contributed to a reward towards finding the perpetrator.  Last, but not least, thanks to all of you who had kind words, thoughts and prayers for Vann.

This article originally published on August 5, 2009.

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Written by :

mkwestmark

 

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