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February 24, 2009
 Little
Rock, AR – The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has selected Wildlife
Officer Doug Small as their 2009 Boating Law Enforcement Officer
of the Year.
Small has been an AGFC wildlife officer for 5 years. He has worked
in Baxter County since becoming a wildlife officer.
In addition to his duties enforcing hunting and fishing
regulations, Small devotes hundreds of hours every year towards
enforcing boating laws and promoting safer use of Arkansas’s lakes
and flowing waters.
Small has been a busy officer over the past year. He has spent
over 800 hours conducting boating patrols on his area lakes and
rivers. He’s also issued and assisted in 21 boating under the
influence arrests and taught 12 boating education classes. Small
has conducted an additional 10 youth programs focused on boating
safety and water recreation activities and assisted in a hands-on
boating education class for 75 students.
Small’s activities haven’t stopped at the classroom. He rescued
and evacuated several people during last spring’s flood and
actively recruited other agency’s law enforcement officers to
accompany him on boating patrols to promote their interest in
boating law enforcement.
Capt. Stephanie Weatherington said that there were many qualified
officers in the running for the award. “All of the nominees should
be commended for their outstanding dedication to boating law
enforcement. Unfortunately only one officer can be selected to
represent Arkansas during the regional competition,” she said.
Small will now go on to represent the state in the Southern States
Boating Law Administrators Association officer of the year
competition.
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