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| Columbia County Deputy DA Receives "2007 Wildlife Prosecutor of the Year" Award | ||
| 07/31/2008 | ||
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Captain Walt Markee OSP Fish & Wildlife Division Office: (503) 934-0221 Photograph Source: Oregon State Police  (Left to right: Captain Markee and Deputy DA Dale Anderson) A Columbia County Deputy District Attorney was selected to receive the first presented award to a prosecutor in Oregon for his support and prosecution of those who violate the State's wildlife laws. The award, sponsored by the Oregon Sportsmen's Coalition, was presented today by Oregon State Police (OSP) at the Oregon District Attorney's Association (ODAA) 2008 Summer Conference in Bend. The Oregon Sportsmen's Coalition, which consists of numerous volunteer outdoor enthusiast groups opposed to the unlawful and unethical taking of wildlife, sponsored the "2007 Wildlife Prosecutor of the Year" award in partnership with the OSP Fish & Wildlife Division. Nominations were received from OSP Fish & Wildlife troopers around the state and forwarded to coalition groups for their review and selection. Captain Walt Markee, OSP Fish & Wildlife Division Director, presented the award July 31st on behalf of the Sportsmen's Coalition to Columbia County Deputy District Attorney Dale Anderson in front of his peers at the ODAA conference. "Deputy DA Anderson is on the front line of the battle against those who unlawfully take Oregon's wildlife," said Markee. "We greatly appreciate the coalition's support in sponsoring this award to help recognize the guidance and work of prosecutors around the state working hard to help bring those to justice who blatantly disregard our laws." Upon receiving the award, Anderson said he was "honored to receive this award and quite embarrassed because he doesn't do it alone. The wildlife cases submitted by OSP troopers are of high quality." Deputy DA Anderson has a reputation amongst OSP troopers as someone who prioritizes and aggressively prosecutes those who violate Oregon wildlife laws despite the many other criminal cases that the Columbia County District Attorney's Office is expected to handle. Between 2006 and 2007, Anderson presented approximately 11 wildlife cases to the Columbia County Circuit Court with the total dispositions including:
Present during the surprise announcement was Columbia County District Attorney Stephen Atchison, who complimented afterward of his deputy DA's work. "Dale has been around for a long time and is one of the most experienced deputy district attorneys in the State. He does a good job working with all police officers that come to our office, and makes sure good cases are submitted and they are fairly prosecuted," said Atchison. OSP nominations from those who work with the Columbia County District Attorney's Office praised Anderson for his work. "Deputy DA Anderson works closely with local OSP Fish & Wildlife troopers, seeking their input in determining fair and equitable dispositions while consistently holding wildlife violators accountable by demanding substantial fines and maximum hunting license suspensions," said Trooper Luther Schwartz and Senior Trooper Robin May, both assigned at the OSP St. Helens worksite. Sergeant Larry Lucas, OSP supervisor at the St. Helens worksite in Columbia County, has worked with Anderson on numerous cases involving all types of criminal activities and arrests. "Deputy DA Anderson works tirelessly on all wildlife cases brought before him while also providing insight on how we can better develop and improve these types of investigations so the Court will take notice and appropriate sentencing action. The sentencing he has sought and obtained, time and time again, on those who are convicted of wildlife crimes is impressive and stands out among his peers but is also fair and justified," said Lucas. During today's announcement, Captain Markee presented Anderson with a wildlife print by artist Terry Redland acknowledging the Coalition's appreciation for his professional achievement in this area. The Oregon Sportsmen's Coalition is comprised of numerous volunteer groups including:
The primary responsibility of the OSP Fish & Wildlife Division is enforcement of fish, wildlife, and commercial fishing laws and protection of natural resources. The members of the Fish and Wildlife Division also enforce traffic, criminal, boating, livestock and environmental protection laws in addition to responding to emergency situations. ### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
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