Additional Information
"Probably half of the officers have degrees in criminal justice and the
other half have degrees in wildlife or biological science," says Timothy Santel.
He is a special agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "Occasionally
someone is hired without a degree, based on experience, but that is rare....We
are seeing more and more people being hired with master's or graduate degrees."
In the U.S., says Santel, all people hired as federal environmental protection
officers are sent to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia
for approximately 20 weeks of training.
"They learn various skills, including courtroom procedures, arresting procedures,
physical training, bombs training, how to operate vehicles in high speed chases
-- all the common police training," he says.
After learning the general training, the officers are trained in issues
and skills specific to their own areas. "For instance, in fish and wildlife,
we learn about the various federal protection laws, as well as how to identify
birds, mammals and other wildlife. We also have official arms training."