VETERAN LIEUTENANT APPOINTED AS OSP FISH & WILDLIFE DIVISION DIRECTOR

Oregon State Police (OSP) Superintendent Timothy McLain announced the appointment of a veteran OSP lieutenant as the Department's next Director of the OSP Fish & Wildlife Division.

Effective August 1st, Jeff Samuels, age 44, was promoted to Captain of the OSP Fish & Wildlife Division directing the enforcement efforts of fish, wildlife, and commercial fishing laws and the protection of natural resources. With an authorized staffing of 117 troopers, sergeants and lieutenants, the men and women of the Fish and Wildlife Division also enforce traffic, criminal, boating, livestock and environmental protection laws in addition to responding to emergency situations.


"Jeff's broad base of experiences and knowledge will help the Fish & Wildlife Division move forward, providing professional and outstanding public safety services throughout our State," said McLain.


The OSP Fish & Wildlife Division is comprised of four sections:


* The Wildlife Section which enforces and protects Oregon's wildlife and natural resources. The Wildlife Section provides enforcement protection for big game animals, furbearers, waterfowl, upland game birds, and non-game wildlife.
* The Fisheries Section which enforces and protects Oregon's sport and commercial fishery regulations and marine resources. The Fisheries Section provides industry regulation and assistance to all commercial fisheries activities, charter vessels, guides, and outfitters, as well as coordinates the formation of policies and enforces laws and regulations affecting sport fisheries.
* The Special Investigations Unit that is primarily responsible for conducting in-depth and complex investigations of individuals or groups in violation of the fish and wildlife laws and regulations, with specific emphasis on those violators that are flagrant or illegally commercializing our state's fish and wildlife resources.
* The Aircraft Program providing aerial support to Fish and Wildlife troopers and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife staff for wildlife management.


Samuels started with OSP as a seasonal cadet before being hired as a full-time recruit trooper in 1989. Since that time he worked Patrol Division assignments at Corvallis, Gold Beach, and Salem. In 1998, he transferred into the Fish & Wildlife Division's Special Investigations Unit in Salem, working as a trooper and later as the unit's Sergeant supervising the special team between 2004 and 2006. He was promoted into a division Lieutenant's position overseeing the Fisheries Section.


Deputy Director Curt Melcher of the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, a primary partner of the OSP Fish & Wildlife Division, praised the choice of Samuels as the new OSP division director.


"Jeff is an outstanding choice as the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division Captain. His experience working with the agency has been invaluable when it comes to protecting fish and wildlife," said Deputy Director Curt Melcher, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
ODFW sets fish and wildlife resource management goals. Then ODFW, with OSP involvement, develops regulations to achieve the management goals and objectives. OSP assures compliance with the regulations to achieve resource management goals.