Fish And Game Conservation Officer Michael Matson Honored
New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Conservation Officer Michael J.
Matson of Northwood was recently honored as the 2009 Northeast Conservation
Law Enforcement Chiefs Association Conservation Officer of the Year.
Matson has worked in Fish and Game Law Enforcement for seven years,
patrolling in District 5 in southeastern New Hampshire. The region is among
the most populous and busy areas of the state for both wildlife and people,
giving it the potential to have more wildlife-related violations than
anywhere else in New Hampshire. Matson has responded to over two thousand
calls for service over the past four years without receiving a single
complaint.
“Matson maintains a high level of professionalism and has developed
excellent interview techniques, as well as evidence collection and
investigative skills,” said Fish Game Col. Martin Garabedian. “Matson
has a unique talent, which some might refer to as a ‘sixth sense,’ in his
ability to look at a set of circumstances and determine with little or no
evidence that something is not quite right. This has allowed him to
successfully prosecute some significant wildlife violation cases that might
have otherwise gone undetected.”
Matson is an avid hunter and fishermen, which provides a strong
foundation for his positive interactions with the sporting public. He
has been actively involved in efforts to keep town-owned lands open to
hunting, and initiated a licensing change to help veterans on leave from
military service gain improved access to hunting and fishing opportunities.
Matson is a member of the Fish and Game Honor Guard and Dive Team and is
a Field Training Officer and Firearm Instructor. He successfully completed a
Marine Law Enforcement Training Program at the Federal Law Enforcement
Training Center in Georgia and now assists coastal officers with enforcing
complex marine regulations and training.
The Northeast Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association, which
represents chiefs and command staff of 22 law enforcement organizations
throughout the northeastern U.S. and Canada. Its purpose is to encourage
enhanced law enforcement cooperation among the member states and provinces,
to study and exchange fish and wildlife law enforcement techniques and
perspectives, and to promote cooperation and understanding among allied
agencies in wildlife conservation and management. Each year, this
association recognizes an officer from each state for his or her outstanding
contribution to fish and wildlife protection of our country’s natural
resources.
