MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON RELATING TO MY CAREER? Peter Cochlin, Conservation Officer

MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT AT WORK? I have had a few, they just don't come to mind at the moment. I try to forget them.

MY FAV PLACE TO FISH IN SASKATCHEWAN? Don Lake. A small lake near Uranium City that just has grayling in it.

MY FAV PLACE TO HUNT IN SASKATCHEWAN? Don't hunt anymore.

WHEN NOT WORKING I CAN USUALLY BE FOUND. . . in the outdoors either boating or snowmobiling depending on the season.

IF I WAS NOT A CO I PROBABLY WOULD BE. . . . a geologist.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM FACING RESOURCE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN SASK?
A lack of Conservation Officer's in the field. A Conservation Officer I always felt was the eyes and ears of the public in the outdoors, "the watchman/ person" for the environment. Now with so few officers, very little dollars to get around and more time been spent on paper work, the amount of time spent in the field has been reduced. You can have all the laws you want on paper, but if no one is ensuring they are being follow-ed, they don't mean a thing.

MY EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES INCLUDE. . . . Boating, snowmobiling, wood work and doing community service; Volunteer Fire Department, maintaining rink ice.

WHAT ONE RESOURCE INVESTIGATION THAT YOU WERE INVOLVED WITH STANDS OUT IN YOUR MEMORY? The first time I seized two illegal moose. It was late at night, the four hunters were drunk and I was alone, young and naive. I soon learned that just because you have a piece of paper saying you enforce the law doesn't mean that anyone will or has to listen to you. Not much thought was given to officer safety when I first started work. After a bunch of yelling, swearing, vehicle chase, a vehicle hitting a vehicle, meat dumped in bush etc., charges were laid, a conviction was had and I learned a few things.

THE MOST MEMORABLE QUOTE FROM A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC? What do you guys do up here, there are no hunters?" This is a general quote that CO's in the north get from the public and even some of own Department staff who don't fully understand the diverse work CO's do in the north. Monitoring hunting and fishing are only a small part of the work we do.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING A CONSERVATION OFFICER? Doing a variety of work in the outdoors. Each day can present a new challenge taking you to different areas at different times of the day, season or year giving you a chance to experience the outdoors like no other job I know.

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