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Patton Named State Wildlife Officer
< < Back to patton-named-state-wildlife-officerState Wildlife Officer Allen Patton has been assigned as the new state wildlife officer in Athens County, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
The Pomeroy Daily Sentinel reports that Patton is a graduate of Stonebridge High School in Ashburn, Va. In 2011, he received an associate degree in wildlife management from Hocking College. Before being accepted into the cadet academy, Patton was a creel clerk at Burr Oak Lake, and served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2003-07. He is a two-time Iraqi veteran.
Patton has been assigned as an at-large officer in southeast Ohio since his graduation from the Wildlife Officer Academy in 2014.
As a state wildlife officer, Patton will have statewide jurisdiction to enforce wildlife regulations, investigate allegations of waterway pollution, protect state property and make arrests. He will also conduct educational programs, perform fish and wildlife management duties, and advise landowners on dealing with wildlife.
Wildlife officers serve an important role as a point of contact with law enforcement and other agencies on topics of mutual interest, providing assistance and expertise.