Department of Natural Resources Conservation
Officer Michael Wells was named the 2008 Conservation Officer of the Year at last week's Natural Resources Commission meeting in Detroit. The honor is bestowed annually by the Shikar-Safari Club International, a wildlife conservation organization.

Wells was hired by the DNR in 1997 and was posted in Iosco County. In 2005, Wells transferred to Newaygo County, where he currently is stationed. Prior to joining the DNR as a conservation officer, Wells worked as a police officer for the city of Big Rapids from 1994 to 1997, and from 1992 to 1994, he worked for the Macomb County Sheriff's Department as a Huron-Clinton Metroparks deputy.

"Officer Wells is well known through the Cadillac District, and has a reputation for being a hard-working, 'old school' law enforcement officer," said DNR Law Enforcement Division Chief Gary Hagler. "He gets out of bed in the middle of the night to answer complaints, if he's not already out there. He always answers the phone, even on his day off, and he is a tenacious investigator."

"One of the best testaments to Officer Wells' work ethic is the amount of letters and phone calls his supervisor receives praising his work and law enforcement efforts," said DNR Director Rebecca Humphries. "Officer Wells also takes his work beyond the field by working with many hunter safety programs in his area, and by working with local meat processors to donate game to the Department of Human Services to help feed families experiencing tough times."

Humphries also pointed out that Wells' investigative skills recently resulted in the recovery of more than $15,000 in restitution for illegal deer cases this fall.

Locally, Wells is active in his community of White Cloud, doing everything from teaching hunter safety to coaching rocket football.

Wells also works closely with other law enforcement agencies, and lends his expertise as a field training officer, Michigan State Police certified driving instructor to train new driving instructors, as a driving instructor at Ferris State University, a charter boat inspector, defensive tactics instructor and background investigator.

Founded in 1952 as a way to advance the knowledge of wildlife worldwide, Shikar-Safari Club International works to enhance and preserve wildlife, and has placed particular emphasis on endangered and threatened species through the promotion of enforcement of conservation laws and regulations.