Photo by Oregon State Police

From L-R: Senior Trooper Khris Brandon (John Day), Senior Trooper Geoff Smith (Burns), Trooper Dean Trent (Burns), Team Supervisor Sgt. Erich Timko (John Day), Senior Trooper Brian Jewett (Fossil), and Trooper Pat McCosker (John Day).

The Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife East-Central Team received the 2020 Fish & Wildlife Division Team of the Year award. The team was presented the award June 10, at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Phillip Schneider Wildlife Area near Dayville.

The East-Central Team was nominated for their outstanding work in 2020, which included everything from joint agency operations to investigations of trophy class mule deer being poached. The East-Central Team is comprised of members from Burns, John Day, and Fossil and is led by Sergeant Timko.

The East-Central team members stationed in Burns are Senior Trooper Smith and Trooper Trent. The team members stationed in John Day are Senior Trooper Brandon and Trooper McCosker, and the team member stationed in Fossil is Senior Trooper Jewett.

The East-Central Team received this award for their professionalism, teamwork, mentorship, dedication to protecting Oregon’s citizens and natural resources, going above and beyond the call of duty, and thinking outside the box to address issues. 

The team is willing to vary their schedules to address priorities, and because of their dedication to duty, are viewed by their communities as “their troopers.”

They have done an outstanding job of partnering with other agencies to conduct joint operations and have shown that teamwork involves working both internally and externally to be successful. 

Additionally, every trooper on the East-Central Team identified at least one enforcement issue this past year, and then authored and implemented an enforcement plan to address the identified problem. These plans focused on different issues, ranging from the historical poaching of deer to regulations on the John Day River.

Join the #OSPFamily in congratulating and thanking the East-Central Team for all their hard work and dedication this past year. 

They are an outstanding representative of this award, the division, and the Oregon State Police.