The late FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover said, "Conservation law enforcement is probably the most hazardous type of law enforcement in the United States today." Probably no other law enforcement agency sends its men into the field with so little formal training as do state conservation agencies. For instance, most of the 14 Southeastern states do not require education above the high school level for conservation officers and these states do not have any basic requirements of training in conservation oriented fields or law enforcement. Top state conservation officials are aware of the problem. Ever since conservation law enforcement became an important factor in our society, authorities have pointed up the need for better training of its enforcement officials. Even with this limitation, conservation law enforcement generally attracts a higher caliber person than do most other enforcement agencies. History has proved conservation officers to be an elite group of dedicated individuals who have a high regard for conservation and law enforcement. This in eludes an inborn respect for the rights and priviliges of their fellow man. For while outdoor sportsmen are engaged in hunting and fishing, the conservation officer is usually out working even longer hours protecting their rights. In Alabama, the turn-over rate of conservation enforcement officers is lower than that of any other enforcement agency. Also, the arrest-conviction ratio for wildlife law violator is higher than for any other enforcement group. This figure speaks for itself in attesting to the high-type individual who is attracted to the conservation enforcement profession and denotes agency support. Even with this outstanding record, most authorities in the field agree there is a definite need for specialized training in conservation law enforcement. In fact, there is a great need for a specially designed conservation law enforcement school. Such a school might be centrally located to serve an entire region of the United States-much like the FBI's training school Quantico, Virginia. This type of school could provide uniform training programs. including such essential courses as business management, self-defense. first aid. firearms safety, pursuit driving and biological sciences. Communication procedures and a course in basic law would also be essential parts of the curriculum. These are merely a few suggestive subjects for illustration.
