DNR adds law enforcement officer
New officer assigned to state trust lands in South Sound

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced the appointment of Jim McCarthy as its newest commissioned law enforcement officer. At a brief ceremony conducted this morning by Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark, McCarthy promised to uphold the state and U.S. constitutions.

“Officer McCarthy joins the DNR Law Enforcement Service to assist our mission to protect Washington State trust lands and resources, and to educate and protect the members of the public using those lands,” Goldmark said.

McCarthy, who served with the Washington State Patrol for 25 years, fills a newly created position that increases DNR’s law enforcement and response capacities on state trust lands. His primary duties will focus on DNR-managed lands in Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pierce, Thurston and other counties in western Washington. His patrol area includes thousands of acres of forested state trust lands and conservation areas.

DNR law enforcement officers are commissioned Peace Officers, certified by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission.

Working with other law enforcement agencies and the public, DNR officers enforce state laws and safety regulations on state trust lands. Their duties include:

  • Enforcing vehicle speeds and regulations on state trust land roads and trails
  • Investigating and preventing vehicle accidents, wildfires and theft of natural resources, such as timber and other forest products
  • Educating the public about safe and sustainable use of public lands and resources
  • Monitoring the use of the state’s Discover Pass on vehicles visiting DNR-managed recreation lands

DNR manages more than 5.6 million acres of state-owned forest, range, commercial, agricultural, and aquatic lands. The department also provides wildfire protection for 12.7 million acres of private and state-owned forestlands and administers Forest Practices rules.

Photos available
Visit DNR’s Flickr page for photos of Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark welcoming Officer Jim McCarthy to the DNR Law Enforcement Service, or link directly to the photos at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wastatednr/7748926200/  
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wastatednr/7748925052/  
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wastatednr/7748925686/  

Media Contact: Bob Redling, Senior Communications Manager, 360-902-1149, bob.redling@dnr.wa.gov

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Courtesy:  WA DNR