Nancy Foley, Chief of the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Law Enforcement Division (LED) has been named as the Shikar-Safari Wildlife Officer of the Year. This annual award is given to qualified individuals who demonstrate extraordinary service to protecting California’s wildlife resources.

“Chief Foley is dedicated to all aspects of fish and wildlife law enforcement, and she has made it her mission to improve the Department’s efforts to educate the public about resource management and public protection,” said DFG Director Don Koch. “We are delighted that Chief Foley’s leadership has been recognized with the honor of this prestigious award.”

Foley was honored by the Shikar-Safari Club International on June 25. Founded in 1952, the club works to advance public knowledge of wildlife around the world, both independently and in cooperation with zoological societies, universities and museums.

Each year, the club honors one officer from each state who has demonstrated exceptional performance and achievement. All law enforcement personnel are eligible for the award.

Foley has been employed with DFG for 21 years and has served as Chief since 2005. Under her leadership, the law enforcement branch expanded to become a division, becoming more efficient and gaining higher visibility within the department.

Under her leadership, DFG implemented its K-9 officer program, which now includes 17 K-9/warden teams around the state. In 2008, she established the first official Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST)-accredited DFG law enforcement academy and improved the LED’s training curriculum by adding instruction in long gun tactics, ground fighting and entry training. These new training opportunities provide wardens with additional skills to help them do their jobs as safely and effectively as possible.

The duties of California’s natural resources law enforcement officers have expanded greatly in recent years, making the job more dangerous and more challenging than ever. Despite these challenges, Foley has helped DFG become a department to emulate among natural resource law enforcement agencies throughout the state and nation.

Information provided by, www.dfg.ca.gov/news.