Master Officer Harrill Named NCWRC Officer of the Year By NWTF

January 28, 2009

The National Wild Turkey Federation will honor all the Wildlife Officers of the year and select from them a National Law Enforcement Officer of the Year next month at their National Convention.

Master Officer Jeremy Brian Harrill with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Division of Enforcement will be honored by the National Wild Turkey Federation for his efforts in conserving wildlife.

We wish Officer Harrill luck as he goes to the convention and hearing his efforts to protect the wild turkey I’d think he stand a good chance for additional honors.

Harrill located four areas where corn had been placed to attract turkey during the 2008 season. On one location, he apprehended and charged an individual for hunting wild turkey over bait. While patrolling on foot, he located several large automated feeders with corn being regularly spread onto the ground. Large numbers of turkeys were observed eating the corn and roosting nearby. Repeated trips into the area before the season proved that both corn and turkeys continued to be present. On opening day, Harrill watched as a suspect hunting from a pop-up ground blind attempted to shoot one of several large gobblers with a bow and arrow. After missing, he then used a shotgun to shoot a gobbler standing nearly under the feeder.

Harrill documented it all by video. When apprehended, the suspect admitted to feeding the turkeys and also to having his son shoot a gobbler on youth day from the same location.

The suspect pleaded guilty in Rowan County District Court and was ordered to pay a replacement cost to the state of $3,200 for the two illegally taken turkeys. He also lost both the bow and shotgun.

Because of his documentation, ability to conduct field interviews and case preparation, the prosecution was provided with overwhelming evidence resulting in a successful conclusion to the case.

Salisbury Post