Area conservation officer wins award

• Brian Humphrey

Brian Humphrey

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PIERRE — South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Conservation Officer Brian Humphrey has been honored by Shikar-Safari Club International as the South Dakota Wildlife Officer of the Year.

Humphrey, the conservation officer for Hutchinson and Turner counties, has been with GF&P since 1997.

“Brian is very deserving of this award,” said Marty Pennock, who is Humphrey’s supervisor. “He has always shown extraordinary dedication to both the wildlife resources and the people he serves. He holds himself to the highest standards in all aspects of his work.”

In receiving the honor, Humphrey was not only praised for his law enforcement work but also helping private landowners and sportsmen implement conservation programs. He is part of a team that enrolled more than 8,000 acres of land into the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program in his area.

Humphrey works on area lakes to oversee safety and law enforcement and is a past Boating Officer of the Year award winner. He logged more than 300 hours assisting in the Missouri River flood relief efforts last year.

One of his duties with GF&P is serving as a training officer for other conservation officers. He also works as a mentor for newly assigned officers in his area and to officers who transfer into the region.

“Brian is an experienced and respected officer who truly cares about making the department the best it can possibly be,” Pennock said. “His strength is his value of duty and his ability to serve people, while promoting an excellent image for our agency.”

The Shikar-Safari Award is awarded annually in all 50 states and in 10 Canadian provinces by the worldwide conservation organization. It has been presented to a South Dakota officer each year since 1968. The award honors wildlife officers for their performances in wildlife protection, wildlife law enforcement, and in the implementation of wildlife conservation programs.

The award was presented to Humphrey at a recent regional meeting in Sioux Falls that included many of his fellow conservation officers and other Wildlife Division staff. He was also honored at the November GFP Commission meeting in Madison.

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