77 www.rnca.ca Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association Continued... Police and Peace Officer of the Year Award 2017 Police Officer of the Year, Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Sgt. Dwight Feltham, Northeast Avalon Region, Royal Newfoundland Constabulary 2017 Police Officer of the Year, Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Cpl. Troy Bennett, Happy Valley-Goose Bay Detachment, Royal Canadian Mounted Police 2017 Peace Officer of the Year Fishery Officer Brent Watkins, Conservation and Protection, Fisheries and Oceans Canada For 10 years Fishery Officer Watkins he has been Detachment Supervisor for the Stephenville Detachment. When public education and stewardship fails to ensure compliance by some individuals Officer Watkins is a very dedicated enforcement officer who has lead his team to ensure compliance with the Fisheries Act and other pertinent legislation. Officer Watkins encourages his staff to put a huge effort into public education and stewardship activities. He has done this leading by example. He has been involved in the Bay St. George Salmon Recovery Group since it began a number of years ago. He has worked closely with the Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation Band to incorporate their aboriginal guardians into the Stephenville Detachment compliance program. He has also worked with the Qalipu to educate and enhance several Species At Risk (SAR). He has also worked closely with fish harvesters to educate them about SAR and the importance of stewardship/compliance to protect the fish and fish habitat resources on the West coast. Officer Watkins has also lead his team by working closely with local schools and incorporating public education and stewardship into many, many school presentations and activities. He lead the region on diversion of court fines into a public education fund which he has used to provide touch tanks to local schools. These fine diversion funds have also been used for numerous other projects in Western Newfoundland by various other non-government agencies for public education and stewardship projects. This process was quickly adapted by regional headquarters and used throughout the NL region. Officer Watkins has demonstrated leadership by mobilizing his staff and engaging them in all aspects of the Stephenville Conservation and Protection program. He led the way within the region in the development of detachment work plans by engaging staff and making them a part of the work planning process. Then each officer was assigned a specific role to execute within the work plan while he himself was also incorporated into the work plan and also had responsibilities. He developed a protocol for use of the SPOT Satellite Messenger System. This protocol is in place to ensure the safety of ALL Fishery Officers when they are engaged in field activities. This protocol has now been adapted by other detachments within the NL region and is currently being used as the template for a region wide protocol. He volunteered to be the Regional Aboriginal Program Champion for the whole NL region. He worked closely with other DFO staff and the five aboriginal groups in NL to complete an inventory of programs that DFO is currently in partnership with Aboriginal groups, with specific focus on the Aboriginal Guardian Program. He spent several months this past winter developing and delivering a week long Aboriginal guardian training course. All of this is outside of his regular duties as a detachment supervisor. Outside of work, he and his wife of 20 years have two children. He has also worked tirelessly to improve several recreational sport programs within the local community and is well known for his volunteer work in the Stephenville area as well as region wide as it relates to minor soccer, hockey and basketball. Fishery Officer Watkins’ commitment to protecting fish and fish habitat with special focus on Public Education and Stewardship is second to no one as an honest and respectful enforcement officer, Fishery Officer Watkins has the respect of management, his peers, his subordinates as well as the public. He is a tireless worker and leads by example, he has excellent department and wears the Fishery Officer uniform with pride. 2017 Peace Officer of the Year Fishery Officer Brent Watkins, Conservation and Protection, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
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