Conservation Officer Appreciation Day proclaimed in Michigan

Governor Gretchen Whitmer proclaimed Sunday, March 15 as Conservation Officer Appreciation Day to honor Michigan's 250 Department of Natural Resources conservation officers; in 2025 those officers interacted with more than 377,000 people through patrols and outreach.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has issued a proclamation designating Sunday, March 15 as Conservation Officer Appreciation Day in Michigan. The day honors the state's 250 Department of Natural Resources conservation officers who are fully licensed law enforcement and serve communities across all 83 counties. The role combines natural resources protection, recreational safety education, and general law enforcement duties. The work is described as unpredictable and includes both routine patrols and emergency responses. Key details: - The proclamation recognizes 250 DNR conservation officers who patrol all 83 Michigan counties. - In 2025, conservation officers interacted with more than 377,000 people through patrols and outreach. - Reported duties in 2025 included protecting worshipers during an attack in Grand Blanc, search and rescue missions, and rescuing stranded boaters. - Officers led emergency operations during the March 2025 northern Michigan ice storm, including delivering supplies and conducting welfare checks. - The DNR manages recreational safety and education programs and certified over 49,000 people in hunting, snowmobiling, boating, or off-road vehicle safety courses. Summary: The proclamation highlights the conservation officers' role in protecting natural resources and public safety across urban and remote areas, and notes their adaptation to emerging challenges and new missions. Undetermined at this time.