SEATTLE, Wash. (Sept. 14, 2016) – During its 57th annual meeting, held in Seattle Wash., Sept. 11-14, 2016, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) recognized Conservation Warden Darren Kuhn with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as the regional Boating Officer of the Year, as selected by the Northern Caucus States.
First launched 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.
Conservation Warden Darren Kuhn is assigned to the Marine Enforcement Team stationed in Green Bay. Darren’s priority is to provide boaters with a safe and enjoyable boating experience while on the waters of the Fox River, Green Bay and Lake Michigan. Darren utilizes different enforcement approaches to ensure boaters are safe while on the water and instills the importance of safety through presentations to different boating groups, onwater and shore contacts with boaters, boat operation training to wardens and municipal water patrol officers, partnering with City, County and Federal agencies and traditional law enforcement.
Warden Kuhn obtained instructor certification through the National Safe Boating Council to teach the Open Waters and Close Quarters courses. In 2015, Darren taught these courses to the 2015 WDNR Recruit Class consisting of 21 wardens, park rangers and forestry officers. Darren was also an instructor at the first ever Wisconsin Municipal Marine Patrol Officer Course. The Marine Patrol Officer’s training was presented to 20 law enforcement officers from local agencies throughout Wisconsin, ensuring that marine patrol officers have the skills needed for marine enforcement activities.
Darren has obtained NASBLA Instructor Certification as a Tactical Boat Operator and Pursuit and Stop Instructor. The WDNR instructor team conducted two Tactical Boat Operator and two Pursuit and Stop courses in 2015. These classes taught more complex and higher speedboat techniques to 40 Wisconsin and Minnesota Conservation Wardens and law enforcement officers from local agencies throughout Wisconsin. Darren’s experience as a Wisconsin DOJ certified Vehicle Contacts/Emergency Vehicle Operations Instructor aids his instruction with both the Tactical Boat and Pursue and Stop Courses.
In 2015 Darren trained with an FBI Tactical Team and US Department of Defense. Darren’s boat operation skills were used in these trainings, deploying tactical teams onto commercial freighters and large boats while stationary and under way.
The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators is a national nonprofit 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. NASBLA offers a variety of resources, including training, model acts, education standards and publications. Through a national network of thousands of professional educators, law enforcement officers and volunteers, the organization affects the lives of over 76 million American boaters. To learn more about how NASBLA continues to make the waterways safe, secure and enjoyable, visit http://www.nasbla.org.