Conservation Officers Recognized for Efforts to Fight Litter

Sergeant Todd Draper, left, and Lt. Clifton Robinson.

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I hate litter.  Several months ago, a post on the Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area Discussion Board reported numerous arrests for littering/dumping in the Cahaba River WMA and surrounding areas.  A cry of support for these arrests was voiced on the board. 

On November 17, 2005, at the Alabama PALS (People Against a Littered State) Governor's Awards Program in Montgomery; Tuscaloosa County Conservation Officer Sergeant Todd Draper received the PALS Law Enforcement Award.

During 2005, Sergeant Draper made several arrests of individuals for breaking litter/dumping laws.  Our own Lt. Clifton Robinson (Bibb County Conservation Officer) assisted Sergeant Draper with several of these arrests.

I hope that you will join me in congratulating these fine officers on a job well done.

Lt. Clifton Robinson is a frequent contributor to the Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area Discussion Board.  Shortly after attending the Alabama PALS Governor's Award Program luncheon, he posted his thoughts on the role that the  Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division should play in controlling litter and dumping in the state of Alabama.  I liked it so much, I asked if he would allow me to post it here.  Below are his comments in their entirety.

November 29, 2005 -- It was an honor and pleasure to attend the 2004-2005 People Against a Littered State Governor's Awards luncheon in Montgomery on November 16th. I was glad to finally have the opportunity to meet Spencer Ryan, PALS executive vice president. He said many kind things concerning my efforts to fight Alabama's litter epidemic. I was exceptionally proud to witness one of our officers, Sergeant Douglas Todd Draper, receive the PALS Officer of the Year Award. Sgt. Draper was the leading officer in the Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Division in making arrests for criminal littering. Sergeant Draper made fifteen litter arrests and one warning since January 2004.

The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division is in a unique position to assist with the enforcement of litter laws. The reason conservation enforcement officers are so successful in enforcing the litter laws is threefold. One reason is that our vehicles are not as conspicuous as other agencies. The second reason is that the very nature of our job requires us to be patrolling the very areas most sought out by illegal garbage dumpers. Third is the sincere dedication and commitment to natural resources protection that all conservation enforcement officers feel. The job description of a conservation enforcement officer specifically states his/her duties as including the protection of natural resources.  After all if it affects the environment, it affects the fish and wildlife too.

We learn in elementary school the importance of protecting the environment and its natural resources. We learn that air, water, soil, plants and animals are all natural resources. Illegal dumping as well as the typical roadside litter certainly has detrimental consequences to all of our natural resources. There are many hazards caused by illegal dumping and littering, such as water and air pollution which can become a breeding ground for diseases that can then transfer to wildlife, pets, livestock, and people. Some of this litter can be a choking hazard to wildlife or cause injuries to wildlife that becomes entangled on the debris. Illegal dumps are a fire hazard to adjacent wildlife habitats due to the frequency of illegal dumps being set on fire. Another conservation concern of littering is the unsightliness of garbage. If the environment is polluted, there will not be any economic incentive to keep private lands available for outdoor recreation such as hunting and fishing.  Not many people will pay to lease lands that have become the local dump. Likewise the public is not likely to support public land acquisitions if they feel that the lands will simply become illegal dumping grounds.

Lieutenant Clifton A. Robinson - Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries

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