sources Police Force traces its origins to 1868, when
the State Oyster Police Force was created to enforce
oyster laws. As the State Fishery Force, it was reorgan-
ized in 1874 under the Commissioner of Fisheries and,
in 1880, under the Board of Public Works. In 1922,
the Force became part of the Conservation Depart-
ment and was renamed Maryland Patrol and Inspec-
tion Fleet. Marine enforcement by the Natural
Resources Police Force originated from responsibilities
of the early fisheries fleets.
For wildlife and inland fisheries, the creation of the
post of State Game Warden in 1896 provided a system
for uniformly enforcing conservation laws across the
State. After the Warden's appointment, government
programs were initiated that still define the inland en-
forcement dudes of the Natural Resources Police Force.
In 1922, the State Game Warden joined the Conserva-
tion Department along with the State Fishery Force
(renamed the Maryland Patrol and Inspection Reet). In
1939, the Conservation Department split into two
departments: the Department of Tidewater Fisheries,
and the Game and Inland Fish Commission (later the
Department of Game and Inland Fish). The Marine
Enforcement Fleet then was named the Division of
Inspection and Patrol. Responsible for enforcing the
Maryland Boat Act of 1960, it became the Maryland
State Marine Police in 1962 and was made part of the
Department of Chesapeake Bay Affairs in 1964. That
department and the Department of Game and Inland
Fish were abolished in 1969 when the Department of
Natural Resources was created. In 1972, the Maryland
State Marine Police was renamed the Natural Resources
Police Force (Chapter 348, Acts of 1972). From 1992
to 1995, the Force was part of Resource Management.
Then, it came under Public Lands.

Throughout the State, the Natural Resources
Police Force has full police powers. It protects life
and property, preserves the peace, prevents crime,
detects and apprehends criminals, and safeguards
individual rights.

The Force serves as the primary search and
rescue agency on Maryland waters and in rural areas
of the State. Through enforcement of hunting and
wildlife conservation laws, the Force provides the
primary law enforcement and emergency services
for some remote areas in Maryland.

The Force enforces State laws and regulations on
boating, commercial seafood harvesting and sport
fishing, waterways pollution, and wildlife conserva-
tion, as well as general criminal law enforcement. The
Force inspects boats for violations of conservation and
boating laws and inspects seafood processing houses
and trucks carrying seafood cargo. It arrests and issues
warnings to violators. The Force also investigates
boating accidents and reports them to the U.S. Coast
Guard. Maryland's three State vessels, the yacht
Maryland Independence, the work boat H. J. £lser,
and the skipjack Anna McGarvey, are operated and
maintained by the Force.

Boating and hunting safety education programs
are conducted by the Force. In addition, the Force
operates the Natural Resources Police Academy at
Matapeake, a central maintenance and supply facil-
ity, and an aviation unit to provide airborne surveil-
lance and rescue services to enforcement programs
and Department agencies (Code Natural Resources
Article, sees. 1-201 through 1-210).
The Force is organized into four bureaus:
Administrative Services; Field Operations; Plan-
ning and Education; and Support Services.

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES BUREAU
Kathy T. Lantz, Chief
(410)974-2248

Formerly under the Boating Administration, the
Administration Program was reorganized under the
Natural Resources Police Force as the Administra-
tive Services Bureau in 1995. The Bureau is respon-
sible for budget, fiscal and personnel management;
public information; and management information
services. The Bureau also schedules the State yacht
Maryland Independence.

FIELD OPERATIONS BUREAU
Capt. Tammy S. Broil, Chief
(410)974-2248

The Field Operations Bureau primarily enforces
wildlife, fish and boating laws, and conducts search
and rescue missions. Its officers are cross-trained
for assignment to either marine or inland patrols.
They also routinely perform police duties involving
criminal violations such as possession of controlled
dangerous substances, theft, assault, fraud, man-
slaughter, and homicide. Operating out of four
regional centers, the Bureau patrols with a fleet of
30 large inboard vessels, 89 smaller outboard ves-
sels, and 100 vehicles.

PLANNING & EDUCATION BUREAU
Maj. Michael E. Howard, Chief
(410)974-2248

Created in 1995, the Planning and Education
Bureau educates the public about outdoor safety,
ethics, and the use of resources. The Bureau issues
certificates to hunters and boaters who complete
safety education courses. By law, hunters must have
a certificate before they can buy a hunting license.
Also, any person born after July 1, 1972, must have
a certificate to operate a registered or documented
vessel. For Natural Resources Police officers, the
Bureau provides specialized training, both entry-
level and in-service. The Bureau also conducts
research and develops long-range planning.
The Bureau works through the Planning
and Development Section, and two divisions:
Outdoor Education, and Training.