Officer Matt O'Connell with well-deserved award.

CAP Names SCO Matt O'Connell Officer of the Year

A few years ago Citizens Against Poaching started a program recognizing Idaho Fish and Game conservation officers for their outstanding contributions to CAP and for their outstanding efforts to protect wildlife.

This year, on May 4, Senior Conservation Officer Matt O'Connell received the Citizens Against Poaching Officer of the Year Award. O'Connell is a 15-year veteran with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and is stationed in Boise. He started his career as a backcountry warden stationed in Yellowpine, then he moved to Cascade and finally to Boise. O'Connell is married and has a young daughter.

O'Connell has consistently responded to often minimal citizen information concerning poaching. He takes the time to thoroughly investigate the tips. He often identifies, locates and cites the suspects. Friendly and efficient, O'Connell has a disarming friendly manner that the public enjoys while he is ever vigilant for poachers who would steal from honest citizens.

O'Connell is active in many community hunting and fishing clinics and he is the editor the Idaho Game Warden magazine. The magazine promotes the professional image of Idaho's Conservation Officers.

The award consisted of an engraved knife, made by Buck Knives of Idaho.

Citizens Against Poaching is a private organization that receives anonymous information on poaching and sends it to Idaho Fish and Game conservation officers. When citations are written the cooperating citizen may receive a reward.