NEW WILDLIFE OFFICER ASSIGNED TO NORTHEAST OHIO

AKRON, OH – Mark Basinger, 38, of Dalton, Ohio, will be assigned as a new at-large state wildlife officer for in northeast Ohio, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

Basinger is one of 13 new wildlife officer cadets who have been undergoing extensive training and were sworn in as commissioned state wildlife officers during ceremonies June 29 in Columbus.  He began his new duties the following day.

Following completion of the Ohio Peace Officers Training course on April 27, the cadets were provided with nine weeks of additional specialized training by the Division of Wildlife.  In addition to wildlife law enforcement procedures and agency policies, the cadets received training in areas such as wildlife and fish management, communications, public relations, administration, education, hunter safety, and special projects.

As a state wildlife officer, Basinger will be responsible for enforcing wildlife laws on public lands as well as private lands and providing assistance to other law enforcement agencies as needed.  He will also assist other Division of Wildlife professionals in a variety of projects as assigned and continue to receive additional resource training during his career.

"I am very pleased to become a wildlife officer and look forward to serving the people of Ohio,” said Basinger. Officer Basinger graduated in 1989 from Hocking College with an Associate’s Degree in Recreation and Wildlife Management.