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December 20, 2023
Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Joe Deppen has been named the 2022 Michigan Officer of the Year by the Association of Midwest Fish and Game Law Enforcement Officers.
AMFGLEO is the lead group among wildlife enforcement organizations in the development and maintenance of training for field officers that protects the resource and benefits the citizens of our states, provinces and countries. It is composed of 23 member agencies from the United States and Canada.
Participating AMFGLEO agencies annually select an internal officer who demonstrates teamwork and community collaboration, is hardworking and motivated, makes good decisions and produces good cases with knowledge of fish and game laws.
Deppen received the award earlier this year among his coworkers, who also nominated him as their District Officer of the Year for the nine-county area based on patrol efforts from 2022.
“Deppen is a hardworking and ‘true to the law’ officer who is instrumental in natural resource protection and preservation,” said Lt. Todd Szyska, DNR Law Enforcement supervisor in southeast Michigan. “His infectious, positive attitude and effort to do good motivate his peers and have helped establish long-lasting relationships with local law enforcement agencies, courts and the public.”
Holding a bachelor’s degree in zoology with a concentration in biology from Michigan State University, Deppen has previous experience working bodies of water in and offshore of Florida and Mexico where he did salvage diving.
This unique water experience established Deppen as a valuable water safety instructor for conservation officer training academies since 2017. He also applies his 100-ton U.S. Coast Guard license and open-water vessel experience as a marine safety instructor, teaching new officers safe and practical marine skills.
Assigned to Macomb County, Deppen has spent his entire CO career patrolling southeast Michigan, which is populated with historic waterfowl areas, including Lake St. Clair, Harsens Island and St. Clair Flats. He uses his waterfowl patrol experience to teach new officers at the weeklong waterfowl training academy. In 2019, Deppen also was recognized as the Mississippi Flyway Waterfowl Protection Officer of the Year for Michigan, annually presented by the Mississippi Flyway Council to a CO who promotes, educates and exemplifies exceptional waterfowl enforcement.
Deppen leads his nine-county area in fish and game investigations¬ and has led multiple search warrants for individuals taking over limits of white-tailed deer; these warrants often lead to additional cases.
A CO since 2016, Deppen adds the AMFGLEO recognition to two DNR Lifesaving Awards.
Michigan conservation officers are fully licensed law enforcement officers who provide natural resources protection, ensure recreational safety and protect residents through general law enforcement and conducting lifesaving operations in the communities they serve. Learn more at Michigan.gov/ConservationOfficers.
An accompanying photo is available below for download. Caption information follows.
Deppen: Conservation Officer Joe Deppen was named the 2022 Michigan Officer of the Year by the Association of Midwest Fish and Game Law Enforcement Officers. Participating AMFGLEO agencies annually select an internal officer who demonstrates teamwork and community collaboration, is hardworking and motivated, makes good decisions and produces good cases with knowledge of fish and game laws. Pictured left to right, from the DNR Law Enforcement Division: Lt. Todd Szyska, Capt. Dave Malloch, CO Joe Deppen, Chief Dave Shaw (retired).
