NASBLA Recognizes Minnesota’s Shawn Wichmann as 2026 Northern Region Officer of the Year
Since joining the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in 2012, Wichmann has built a reputation for proactive enforcement, strong community engagement and a commitment to keeping Minnesota waterways safe. He currently patrols the Slayton area, a popular destination that attracts boaters and anglers from multiple surrounding states each year.
Since transferring to the Slayton station in 2023, Wichmann has taken enforcement action 82 times involving boating, personal watercraft, registration and safety equipment violations. During that same period, he arrested four impaired boat operators and addressed several underage alcohol violations. His patrol area has recorded zero boating fatalities or reportable boating incidents during his tenure.
In addition to his enforcement responsibilities, Wichmann serves as a NASBLA-certified seated battery instructor, Drug Monitoring Technician (DMT) operator and instructor for the Minnesota DNR Conservation Officer Academy. He regularly mentors new conservation officers during alcohol enforcement training and coordinates boating enforcement details with local, state and federal law enforcement partners.
Public outreach and boater education are also central to Wichmann’s work. Through media interviews, campground visits and direct engagement with boaters, paddlers and anglers, he promotes life jacket wear, sober boating and safe vessel operation throughout the region he serves.
Wichmann’s professionalism, fairness and commitment to public safety continue to strengthen recreational boating safety efforts across Minnesota waterways.
Congratulations to Conservation Officer Shawn Wichmann on being named the 2026 NASBLA Northern Region Officer of the Year!
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First presented in 2000, the Marvin “Butch” Potts Memorial Award, known as the Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award, is presented annually to the boating law enforcement officer who has made outstanding contributions to the field of boating law enforcement. The award program consists of three levels: state, regional and national.
The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is a national nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization that works to develop public policy for recreational boating safety. NASBLA represents the recreational boating authorities of all 50 states and the U.S. territories. We offer a variety of resources, including training, model acts, education standards, publications and more. Through a national network of thousands of professional educators, law enforcement officers and volunteers, we affect the lives of nearly 85 million American boaters.