The Maryland Natural Resouces Police
Needs Your Support!
With budget cuts, a decreasing number of officers, the loss of the aviation unit, declining support materials, and fewer units in the field on patrol plus more cuts coming this year, your support would be most welcome.
There are two ways you can help. One way is to assist the NRP directly. Become a volunteer. The Maryland Natural Resources Police Reserve provides assistance to officers through joining them on patrol and assisting at events. You can visit the Maryland Natural Resources Police Reserve Officers Association for additional information. You can print a copy of the application for the NRP Reserves. You can contact Cpl. Harry Rhule for the Southern and Eastern Regions of Maryland or Cpl. Jeff White for the Central and Western Regions for specific information.
Another way is to become more politically active. For example you can write letters to the editor, or you could contact members of the state legislature and express your position on bills. Watch this page for specific information on what retired members have done and what bills are pending. Links will be bulleted below when information becomes available.
If you want help in finding relevant information, drafting a document or getting notes together for a conversation with a representative visit our Contact Your Representative Page for some assistance in that area.
Anyone can contact members of the State Senate and the House of Delegates and advise them of their opionion. You can tell them your views through U. S. Mail (Snail Mail), email, AND/or a phone call. Of course, you can have personal contact too. Even if your contact is merely counted by the legislative member, the higher the number, the more serious the official takes the issue. Minimally officals are given reports of what contacts were made and a summary of the content.
Directory for Information
The Conservation Law Enforcement Act of 2010 sets the foundation for
the future. DNR is directed find funding. - The Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus sees Maryland's Conservation Law Enforcement Delimma in a publication dated March 12, 2009. The document examines the magnitude of the Dilemma, references the Report from the Task Force on Fishery Management's findings and recommendations, and, in general, completely supports the NRP.
- Retired member writes Published Article.
- Who are MY State Representatives? Find the names you need and contact information of your officials here. There is an alphabetical List of Senators with District and an alphabetical List of Delegates with District you can also use.
Please Contact Your Legislative Members
Visit the State Elected Officials Website to find who your officials in the legislature are. Under the map, enter your address with city and check the other 2 boxes for House of Delegates and State Senate. (Unclick the Congressional District if you are not interested in that.) Click the "Find Elected Officials" on the right side just under the map. Notice there is a new printed left column in which all the information is listed. The House member(s) names should be in view, printed in blue in that new left side. Click the blue name and all his/her info will pop up onto the screen. When you finish reading the pop-up, close the window. You will need to scroll down the left column using the scroll bar alongside that column to see the Senate offical's name to click.
If you want more specific help in drafting a document or organizing your thoughts for speaking with an official, visit the Contact Your Representative page.
The Legislature finished is 2010 session on April 12, 2010 and will not reconvene until January of 2011. In the interim time, the Lodge and our friends will be working to develop a strategy for the next session of the legislature.
If you choose, you are welcome to just send a general contact to the Legislature indicating that you understand the NRP Law Enforcement Delimma and you support rebuilding the Natural Resources Police. We will be posting more information on the strategy as it develops.
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Conservation Law Enforcement Act of 2010
The Conservation Law Enforcement Act of 2010 has been passed
with amendments with only the
anticipated signature of the Governor needed. This bill sets the foundation
from which to build a stronger more vibrant Natural Resources Police.
Day after day, Lodge members along with Bill Miles of the Maryland Sportsmens Legislative Foundation were in Annapolis, shaking hands, visiting offices, talking with General Assembly members, providing copies of the SB987, explaining our dilemma and asking for votes,and even explaining to a few Legislative members, what the Natural Resources Police are. They recognize Game Warden and Marine Police, but not NRP.
We knew from the start that SB987 was just the building point. The vote shows there is strong support for NRP in the legislature. Next year's bill expects to start collecting on that good will as well as the DNR results from the funding study.
The strongest part of the bill says: "SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with sportsmen's groups, and any other entities deemed appropriate by the Department, shall study funding policies that may bolster the ranks of the Natural Resources Police Force in order to help meet 21st century demands on conservation law enforcement, including policies by which revenues realized under this Act may be used to leverage additional revenues from the public and private sectors. On or before October 1, 2011, the Department shall report its findings and recommendations, in accordance with § 2-1246 of the State Government Article, to the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee and the House Environmental Matters Committee." Notice the report is not due BEFORE the next session of the General Assembly.
Next year when we strive for more specific funding, it will be even more important to have more people at the legislature to attend hearings and be seen by the members of the General Assembly. For example, this year we heard Delegates and Senators lamenting the lack of 5000 member group to be able to get even ONE PERSON to the hearings. There bill failed!
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Retired Member Published
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