Strafford man, K-9 partner, net Conservation Officer of the Year award

Conservation Officer James Benvenuti of Strafford and his K-9 partner Cora were honored with the 2017 Northeast Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association of the Year Award. (Courtesy photo/NHF&G)

CONCORD - The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department's Law Enforcement Division recently recognized the 2017 New Hampshire Conservation Officers of the Year.

Conservation Officer James Benvenuti of Strafford and his K-9 partner Cora were honored with the 2017 Northeast Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association of the Year Award.

Benvenuti has been patrolling in Region 6, on the Seacoast, since he joined the Department in 2011. He is one of the newest members of the Fish and Game Department's Dive Team and has made significant contributions in this work already. Benvenuti and K-9 Cora went through a rigorous and extensive training program and proved to be an exceptional team. Benvenuti continues to maintain a vigorous training schedule along with the regular responsibilities of a Conservation Officer. He is also a Field Training Officer, helping to train new recruits in their first year.

"The coastline of our state places unique demands on the officers tasked with enforcing the myriad of laws that exist along our coast," said Fish and Game Law Enforcement Chief Kevin Jordan. "Commercial fisheries enforcement is a completely different and complicated challenge when compared to other officer initiatives. James understands the complexities of quality law enforcement addressing professional fishermen and their livelihoods and is seen as a resource to other officers when working on the coast. His consistent hard work and dedication to the job and the people we serve have earned him the respect of his law enforcement peers and the general public."

The Conservation Law Enforcement Chief's Association (CLECA), is an organization made up of Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs from the states of Virginia to Maine, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement and Canadian Provinces. The primary purpose of the Association is to encourage and promote conservation law enforcement cooperation among the eastern states represented. Annually, CLECA recognizes an officer from each state for their outstanding contributions to fish and wildlife protection of our country's natural resources.