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DWR Sergeant Daniel Hall Receives Guy Bradley Award
Richmond, VA — The Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is honored to announce that Conservation Police Officer Sgt. Daniel (Dan) Hall was selected to receive the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) 2020 Guy Bradley Award. Dan joins Granville Ross (1988), Bruce Lemmert (2002), John Hutchens (2013), and Karl Martin (2019) as recipients from the Commonwealth of Virginia of this prestigious award. During the course of his 30 plus year career, Sgt. Hall’s commitment to our natural resources, the agency, the sportsmen and sportswomen, and the citizens of the Commonwealth and its constituents has been unwavering.
The Guy Bradley Award is presented annually to one state agency officer and one federal agency officer whose dedication and public service in protecting the nation’s natural resources demonstrates outstanding leadership, excellence in implementation, knowledge and actions that have advanced the cause of wildlife conservation. NFWF considers nominee’s years of service, career achievements, professional contributions, impact on their community, innovation and other criteria in making their selection.
In 1905, Florida game warden Guy Bradley became the first wildlife law enforcement agent killed while performing his duties to protect the nation’s wildlife. Law enforcement agents and officers like Bradley are essential to virtually every aspect of wildlife conservation, from recovering endangered species to managing waterfowl and big game resources. In honor of Guy Bradley, NFWF established this lifetime achievement award to recognize individuals for their commitment and performance in the field of wildlife law enforcement.
“Established in honor of the first wildlife law enforcement agent to be killed while performing his duties, this annual award recognizes extraordinary contributions to national and local efforts to protect wildlife,” said Jeff Trandahl, Executive Director and CEO of NFWF. “Conservation Police Sergeant Daniel Hall of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources has truly earned this recognition. Over more than 30 years, his career accomplishments have ranged from helping to reopen deer season in southwest Virginia to holding companies responsible for polluting waterways. His efforts have improved the quality of life for local residents and helped to preserve and protect wildlife for future generations.”
Sgt. Hall has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the field of conservation law enforcement throughout the last three decades. Dan was instrumental in the restocking efforts of Whitetail Deer in rural Southwest Virginia. Dan’s passion for the resource and ability to make mutually beneficial relationships with numerous landowners helped facilitate this effort which resulted in the re-opening of deer season in that area, which had been closed for 18 years. While working the same geographic area, Sgt. Hall identified an opportunity to encourage angler activity in the Breaks Interstate Park, a park whose boundaries lie between Virginia and Kentucky. Working with local legislators and elected officials, Dan facilitated legislation that allowed residents of either state to fish in the park with their own resident licenses. Not only did this encourage angler involvement, but eliminated a significant enforcement issue in this heavily used recreational area.
Not only has Sgt. Hall been a leader in the field of law enforcement, Dan understands the need for outreach opportunities and education that encourages positive interaction between constituents of all ages and diverse backgrounds, and law enforcement officials. For the last 20 years, Dan has organized and coordinated the Smyth County Kids Fishing Event that to date, has reached thousands of youth, many of whom have went on to purchase licenses and contribute to conservation later in their life. Other outstanding community based programs that Dan has been directly involved with include a VFW sponsored boating safety program for elementary school students, the “Shop with a Cop” program, and a 21st Century Learning Grant program that teaches, supports, and encourages fishing and wildlife conservation.