2010 Investigative Ranger of the Year

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) recently selected Cpl. Brent Railey, from the Region 4 Law Enforcement Office headquartered in Macon, as the 2010 State Investigative Ranger of the Year. Cpl. Railey was recognized for his work on an extensive poaching investigation conducted last year.

“Cpl. Railey did an exceptional job with all aspects of this investigation,” says WRD chief of law enforcement Col. Homer Bryson. “The command staff sincerely appreciates his unrelenting efforts in bringing these poachers to justice.”

The investigation worked by Cpl. Brent Railey was first reported as a night hunting violation by the Troup County Sheriff’s office. Upon his initial investigation, Railey found an abandoned pickup truck and a poached deer. Over the course of nearly three months, the officer was able to collect enough evidence to show that the suspect’s whereabouts were not what he had reported. Eventually, Railey was able to get enough evidence to result in a first offender guilty plea by the suspect, which led to a fine of over $2,000 and a loss of hunting privileges for two years. This violator was later caught night hunting again (Oct. 2009) rendering his first offender status null and void.

For more information on the Investigative Ranger of the Year Award call the Wildlife Resources Divsion, Law Enforcement Headquarters at 770-918-6408.