Submitted by the Department of Natural Resources

SOCIAL CIRCLE — Law enforcement rangers with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) consistently face a wide variety of natural resource related criminal activity. Often times, lengthy criminal investigations ensue which require diligence and dedication on behalf of the officers. One such dedicated ranger, CPL Derek Dillard of Gainesville, was recently recognized by WRD as the 2008 State Investigative Ranger of the Year for his work in an extensive poaching investigation in 2007.

“CPL Dillard did an exceptional job with all aspects of this complex investigation,” says WRD chief of law enforcement Col. Terry West. “The command staff sincerely appreciates his unrelenting efforts in bringing these poachers to justice.”

In April of 2007 CPL Dillard responded to a poaching complaint from a Rabun County landowner. Dillard collected evidence, conducted interviews and came across some inconsistencies that led to an 8-month investigation. Dillard engaged fellow rangers from the Gainesville and Calhoun law enforcement offices, as well as his counterparts from North Carolina in the case. In working with the District Attorney’s office, Dillard obtained a search warrant for cell phone records from a homeowner whose property was initially searched in the beginning of the investigation. The cell phone records provided the missing link to the case and led to the proper identification of the offender.

On October 20, 2007, charges of hunting without permission and possession of illegally taken wildlife were placed on the offenders. The defendants pleaded guilty to the charges and ended up paying fines of more than $1,400. The illegally taken wildlife, a trophy caliber gobbler turkey, was forfeited and will be used for educational purposes by WRD’s Gainesville rangers.

Additional WRD rangers were nominated for the award by their supervisors for their outstanding investigative work in 2007. They are: CPL James Keener of Calhoun, Ranger First Class (RFC) Bobby Timmerman of Thomson, RFC Keith Page of Macon and RFC Mike Binion of Albany.

For more information on the 2008 State Investigative Ranger of the Year Award, call the WRD law enforcement headquarters office at (770) 918-6408.