summary

COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

AGENDA TITLE:

Albemarle County Sheriff’s Office 2008-09 Game Enforcement Summary

SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST:

Presentation of Albemarle County Sheriff’s Office 2008-09 Game Enforcement Efforts/Results

STAFF CONTACT(S):

Messrs Tucker, Elliott, Davis; and Sheriff Harding

LEGAL REVIEW: Yes

AGENDA DATE:

June 3, 2009

ACTION: INFORMATION:

CONSENT AGENDA:

ACTION: INFORMATION: X

ATTACHMENTS: Yes

REVIEWED BY:

In response to citizen concerns regarding illegal hunting, the Board began appropriating supplemental funding for the Sheriff’s Department beginning in fiscal year 1999 to support enforcement efforts of the state game warden. During each deer hunting season, the Albemarle County Sheriff’s Office conducts game enforcement efforts to ensure compliance with State and County hunting laws. These activities include patrolling the County to verify that hunters are properly licensed, responding to E911 calls for service from concerned citizens, issuing warnings/summonses, conducting special operations and seizing property. The attached report provides the 2008-2009 hunting season statistics.

During the 2008-09 hunting season, the Albemarle County Sheriff’s Office checked a total of 123 hunters with 59 of these checks resulting from calls from concerned citizens. Of the 59 calls received from citizens, 21 were complaints of trespassing, 21 were shots fired/heard by land owners, 12 were complaints of road hunting, and 5 were complaints of spot lighting. Twenty-seven (27) summonses were issued for illegal hunting during this period by the Sheriff’s Office and a 96.4 percent conviction rate was achieved in the prosecution of these violations. In addition to work performed by the Sherriff’s Office, the state game warden’s office received 41 calls for service during this period. The Sheriff’s Office also engaged in special operations utilizing decoys, stake outs and increased patrols in known trouble areas of the County. Collectively, enforcement activities included 56 shifts during a 14 day period and a total of 515 staff hours which aided in ensuring compliance with state and county hunting laws.

The FY2009 Operating Budget allocated approximately $16,000 to the Sheriff’s Office for game enforcement activities with the majority of these funds earmarked primarily for overtime expenses.