NATURAL RESOURCES POLICE
FORCE
Roy W. Rafter, Superintendent
Tawes State Office Building,
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 269-2247
269-3181
This agency, created by Chapter 348,
Acts of 1972, traces its beginnings to the
establishment of the State Oyster Police
Force in 1868 for the enforcement of the
oyster laws of the State. Legislation enacted
in 1874 brought all forces afloat under the
Commission of Fisheries and named the new
unit the State Fishery Force. In 1922, the
Force became a part of the former Conser-
vation Department and was known as the
Maryland Patrol and Inspection Fleet. In
1941, the Patrol Fleet was incorporated in-
to the Department of Tidewater Fisheries
and its name was changed to the Division of
Inspection and Patrol. In 1960, the Force
became a part of the Division of Law En-
forcement of the Department of Tidewater
Fisheries, renamed the Marine Police Di-
vision in 1962.
The Natural Resources Police Force en-
forces State laws and regulations pertaining
to commercial and sport fishing, boating,
waterways pollution and wildlife conserva-
tion. Also, it conducts boating and hunting
safety educational programs.
Activities also include the operation of
the Natural Resources Police Academy at
Matapeake, operation of a central main-
tenance and supply facility, operation of an
aviation unit to provide airborne surveil-
lance and rescue services to the enforcement
programs and other agencies of the Depart-
ment of Natural Resources.
The 125-man Marine Division includes
Headquarters, Communications, and Field
Force Sections.
Among its other duties, it recovers stolen
or lost boats and stolen outboard motors,
renders other water-oriented assists to the
boating public, including delivery of emer-
gency messages, regatta patrols, tow into
port disabled vessels, removal of persons
from water, first aid administration, ice
breaking, search for missing boats, fire |
fighting on boats, engine repairs, and re-
floating of boats from grounding on shoals.
The Inland Division of the Natural Re-
sources Police Force is charged with the re-
sponsibility of enforcing all laws and regu-
lations relative to the protection and preser-
vation of wildlife, and with the welfare and
safety of the citizenry. It apprehends per-
sons for violations of the fish, game, boating
and litter laws and regulations.
Inland Officers assist Wildlife Law En-
forcement officials in contiguous states in
the apprehension of game and fish violators.
assist state and local police in the apprehen-
sion of felons, and search for persons re-
ported as lost or missing. They also search
for and recover drowning victims, relay
emergency information to hunters and fish-
ermen, render assistance to boaters and
recover drifting unmanned boats.
Thousands of people receive firearms and
hunter safety instructions during a year
Units manned by this division include pa-
trol boats, runabouts, vehicles, and one
twin-engine Amphibian aircraft.
The force inspects boats for conservation
and boating violations. It also inspects sea-
food processing houses and trucks carrying
seafood cargo. It makes arrests and issues
warnings for violations of boating and con-
servation laws, trips to collect water and
shellfish samples for the Seafood Program
in conjunction with the State Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene and boat acci-
dent investigations.
FOREST SERVICE
Adna R. Bond, Director
Tawes State Office Building,
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 269-3776
The Forest Service, created by Chapter
348, Acts of 1972, succeeded the Depart-
ment of Forests and Parks established by
Chapter 508, Acts of 1941. The latter de-
partment superseded the Board of Forestry
created by Chapter 294, Acts of 1906. The
Forest Service is responsible for the overall
direction, supervision and coordination of
the activities in the State Forests. Programs |
