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FWC announces new law enforcement director

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This week, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) welcomed a new law enforcement director, Col. Curtis Brown.

Brown, who is known among his colleagues at the FWC and partner agencies for his passionate dedication to conservation, will oversee more than 1,000 employees in the FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement. He’ll direct their efforts to protect Florida’s valuable natural resources and to provide public safety on state lands and waters.

“We are excited about Col. Brown’s passion and positive attitude,” said FWC Executive Director Nick Wiley. “He brings a wealth of experience working with FWC teams and stakeholders to address complex conservation challenges.”

After serving in the U.S. Air Force, Brown worked his way up within the FWC. He began as an officer in Hendry and Collier counties in 1991 then worked as an investigator, lieutenant, captain and major throughout the state, even earning the agency’s Officer of the Year award his fourth year on the job.

Some of his many notable accomplishments include working with state and federal partners on several large-scale commercial poaching investigations, developing the FWC’s Internet Crimes Unit and helping coordinate the agency’s strategic plan initiative. Brown has also been instrumental in improving the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Reward Program.

“I am honored and humbled to be accepting this position,” Brown said. “But it is not about me. I’m looking forward to representing each of our officers and other staff members as we work together to do what’s best for the natural resources and people of Florida. Our officers have a unique role as ambassadors for conservation, honoring the public trust while enforcing regulations for fishing, hunting, wildlife, boating and more.”

Brown succeeds Calvin Adams Jr., who served as director of law enforcement since May 2013 and is retiring.