SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH — Four men will graduate from POST (Police Officers Standards and Training) Academy during a ceremony at 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday, December 14, 2005. Later the same day, the four men will be sworn in as wildlife officers at 2:00 p.m., at the Lee Kay Center.

Two other wildlife officers who were recently sworn have been invited to the ceremony.

"There is a sense of urgency," said Sid Groll, Director of Law Enforcement for the Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR). "We are down 30 percent in the number of officers in the Division of Wildlife Resources."

The graduates went through the same training as police and highway patrol officers. However, the DNR officers are also required to have a bachelor's degree in a biological field or in criminal justice with additional biology training. They will have to fulfill up to 18 months of additional supervised in-house and field training. Several of the wildlife officer candidates are at the top of their class and are expected to pick up additional honors at the graduation ceremony.

"The primary goal of our officers is resource protection. However, our wildlife officers are faced with situations ranging from a cougar in a garage to drug runners," said Jim Karpowitz, Director of the Division of Wildlife Resources.

"Our officers often work in tandem with game managers and biologists," said Captain John Pratt with DWR. "They also assist other agencies, like State Parks and Recreation and county sheriffs, on accidents and searches and rescues."

The six officers that will be at the Lee Kay Center ceremony include:

Robert Johnson — Graduated May 2002 from Binghamton University, New York with a Bachelors of Science degree. He was on the Dean's list in the spring of 2002. Graduated from POST October 21, 2005

Keith Fullenkamp — Graduated from Ohio State University with a Bachelors degree in Wildlife Management. Keith has experience as an officer in Ohio and Idaho. Received his certificate from POST September 19, 2005

Gabe Patterson — Graduated from Southern Utah University with a Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Business Management. Will graduate from POST December 14, 2005.

Micah Evans — Graduated from Northern Arizona University in May 2005 with a Bachelors degree in Biology with an emphasis in Wildlife Management. Will graduate from POST December 14, 2005

Paul Washburn — Graduated from BYU with a Bachelors degree in Wildlife and Range Resources. Will graduate from POST December 14, 2005.

Jonathan Moser — Graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelors degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and Portuguese. Will graduate from POST December 14, 2005.

"Our hope is that the general public understands how well trained all of our officers are and will appreciate the job that they do," said Karpowitz. "We are proud to say that our officers are professional and committed to providing good service."