South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Recognizes Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award Recipients
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council presented the 2024 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award during its meeting this week in North Charleston, South Carolina. Awards were presented to PFC Andrew Alexander with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Division of Law Enforcement and to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Offshore Patrol Vessel Team – South Region Alpha.
Since 2010, the Council has recognized individuals or teams that have exceeded duty requirements, exemplified the virtues of professionalism and dedication, and demonstrated a distinct pattern of service to enforcing fisheries regulations in the South Atlantic region. This year’s recipients were nominated by their respective states for their willingness to go the extra mile and dedication to work on cases involving federal investigations through NOAA Fisheries Joint Enforcement Agreement (JEA).
PFC Andrew Alexander works in the Beaufort, South Carolina area as a Saltwater Enforcement Unit officer, responsible for enforcing recreational and saltwater activities. As a Field Training Officer, he is the leader in his unit when it comes to training new hires and sharing his knowledge of the waterways in his area of operation. In addition to training, PFC Alexander is known as the go-to officer for the JEA, responsible for multiple JEA case packets, including harvest of snapper grouper species during closed seasons, undersized fish, and gear violations. (L-R Captain Dennetta Dawson, Council Chair Trish Murphey, and PFC Alexander)
Known by fellow officers as “Turbo”, PFC Alexander was the lead officer in a two-month-long investigation resulting in 17 cases of undersized saltwater gamefish, a commercial crabbing investigation that resulted in 11 cases, and two JEA case packets involving Black Sea Bass, Red Porgy, and Gag grouper. In addition, he was involved in a case where a shrimp trawler was dragging inside a closed area, resulting in a $4,000 fine and seizure of the catch. “PFC Alexander has a phenomenal work ethic and maintains a positive working relationship with outside agencies as well, working at the state, local, and federal level,” said First Sergeant and JEA Coordinator Garrett Hering with SCDNR Law Enforcement.
The FWC Offshore Patrol Vessel Team consists of Lieutenant Edwin Harp, Senior Officer Specialist David Moss, Officer Specialist Casey Schroer, Officer Specialist Alexander Bruder, and Officer Zachary Dudas. Together, the Team operates two patrol vessels, the 38’ Atlantic Defender and the 33′ Warsaw, specializing in federal and state fisheries enforcement. The team is also involved in instruction, training, and has offered assistance to those impacted by Hurricane Helene and migrant missions as well.
In 2024, the Team exceeded their required JEA hours by 54% with a total of 44 fishery cases resulting in 40 federal citations and 48 warnings while on JEA patrol. The cases included Bahamas violations (Lacy Act), Marine Protected Area violations, and closed season violations involving Red Snapper and Golden Tilefish. In addition to making cases, the Offshore Patrol Team also has a passion for teaching officers about federal fisheries. They assisted officers with 18 other Bahamas federal fisheries cases, including facilitating communication with local NOAA agents.
“This award allows us to acknowledge the importance of law enforcement in managing marine resources,” said Council Chair Trish Murphey. “These men and women work tirelessly year-round to help ensure the protection of our region’s fisheries, and the awards are well-deserved.”