NASBLA announces the 2023 Southern Region Educator of the Year
Master Officer Ashley O'Hare, of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC), has been named the 2023 NASBLA Southern Region Educator of the Year.
With six years of dedicated service to NCWRC’s Law Enforcement Division, Officer O'Hare has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to boating safety education and ensuring the protection of all boaters on North Carolina’s waterways.
Over the past year, Officer O'Hare has excelled in proactive enforcement efforts and boating safety education. Her commitment to enhancing her skills and knowledge was evident as she completed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) Train-the-Trainer class, followed by the 24-hour NASBLA Boating Under the Influence (BUI) Train-the-Trainer course. Equipped with the expertise to instruct the seated battery of standardized field sobriety tests, Officer O'Hare went on to provide invaluable in-service training for her fellow wildlife officers and recruits at the Basic Training School. Her contributions in this area are pivotal to the mission of promoting safe and responsible boating while ensuring public safety through BUI detection and apprehension.
Officer O'Hare's impact extends beyond the classroom, as she actively assisted officers in the field with BUI arrests, offering guidance throughout the entire process. Her willingness to support her colleagues was evident when she volunteered to collaborate with a new officer on the coast. Together, they successfully detected and arrested one subject for boating while impaired and two others for driving while impaired. Officer O'Hare's leadership and expertise ensured a seamless arrest procedure and subsequent successful prosecution. Her colleagues now look to her as a valuable resource for BUI detection in their district.
Recognizing the power of media and community engagement, Officer O'Hare effectively utilized her extensive local media contacts to educate the public on safe recreational boating. She conducted interviews with the local Fox 8 news channel and participated in discussions with the High Rock Lake Life Facebook group, which boasts a membership of over 7,000 individuals. Officer O'Hare's mastery of both traditional and social media platforms has proven instrumental in promoting safe and responsible boating practices across the state.
In addition to her collaborations with the media, Officer O'Hare fostered strong partnerships with other public safety organizations in her county. She provided boating safety classes and legal updates to deputies of the Davidson County Sheriff's Department, equipping them with the knowledge necessary to work on the water during the summer months. Officer O'Hare also worked individually with deputies, enhancing their boating skills, and supporting their first BUI suspect arrest. These efforts further strengthened the partnership between law enforcement agencies, promoting boater safety, and enhanced public safety.
Demonstrating her commitment to public education, Officer O'Hare conducted three public NASBLA-approved boating safety classes for local boaters and provided pre-launch boating safety inspections at local ramps. By conducting these inspections, she ensured that boaters had the opportunity to address safety violations before heading out on the water. Officer O'Hare's dedication to educating young minds was also evident as she participated in the Davidson County Sheriff's Office D.A.R.E. Program event called Safety Town, where she taught elementary school children about the importance and proper use of life-saving devices.
Officer O'Hare demonstrates a profound dedication to advocating for safe and responsible boating, ensuring public safety through proactive law enforcement, and delivering high-quality education to all recreational boaters. Her exceptional commitment makes her an invaluable asset to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and the entire state of North Carolina. Congratulations Master Officer Ashley O'Hare!
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Generously sponsored by Kalkomey Enterprises, Inc., the Pamela S. Dillon Boating Educator of the Year Award was launched by NASBLA in 2011 to recognize those who go above to engage students and boaters, raise awareness, and make boating education initiatives relevant, thorough and exciting.
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.