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 This section was created
for the sports men and women of Illinois. We have asked some of
our local officers to contribute to our public education and community
outreach programs by telling us something about themselves.
Name: CPO Rafael
Gutierrez
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
Major Biology Minor Spanish
Region / District: Lake
Michigan Marine Unit / 4
Years of experience: 8
years
Specialized training: Boat
theft investigator, Title fraud investigator, boat accident
investigator, Field Training
Officer, defensive tactics instructor PPCT, firearms instructor, I.A.M.I.
member (International Association of Marine Investigators), bike patrol
officer and academy supervisor.
Why did I become a CPO? Always
wanted to be a police officer. I have a special interest in boats
and the outdoors.
Most interesting arrest(s)? The
most interesting was working on a case which involved a seized boat
worth $25,000. I arrested a guy who had cocaine and was operating
under the influence (O.U.I.)
In this case the offender lost $5,000 cash, his boat, his cocaine and
had to pay over $8,000 in fines and penalties. The boat, a 25
foot Wellcraft, was auctioned off in Cook County.
Unsolved cases? I
am currently investigating several boat theft and insurance fraud cases.
Being this close to a 3 state region we get several investigations from
Wisconsin and Indiana. Persons with information can
contact us via our TIPS number at 1-877-2-DNR-LAW.
Area of expertise? Marine
Investigator.
Outside interests? Hunting
Pheasants, fishing, gardening, biking, and weight lifting.
Other officer which inspires you? Sergeant Swirderski and Officer Mike Delis.
Retirement Goals? I
hope to retire in good health. I look forward to retirement in Mexico. Somewhere along
one of their beautiful beaches..
Favorite dog? German
Sheppard
Hunting or Fishing?
Fishing.
Is it hard to keep professional when
an offender is upset? Not really.
Tactics I use are to remain calm and down play the situation. I
offer more of a helpful position then a threatening one..
What factors do you consider when
exercising discretion? I look at age and
demeanor of the
offender. Their prior convictions come into play as well as their
level of remorse.
What is the easiest and hardest part
of the job? The hardest part of the job is
getting a prosecution in Cook County for a property crimes. The
easy part is working on the water and the Chicago Lakefront.
Has the community been supportive? The boating community has been supportive.
They are in favor of our law enforcement efforts. Many of the
surrounding municipalities and communities
support conservation police 100 percent.
Ever get your car / truck stuck? Well ...yes.....actually my Field Training Officer
got it stuck during training. It was along with his squad car and
two tractors.
How do you want the Conservation
Police to improve in the next 5 years? Maintain
good head count, maintain a good relationship between the management and
field CPO's, and work toward the same goals.
What type of person makes a good CPO? A
person who self motivated and has good common sense. Education is
very important. In conservation law most of the cases are handled
by a single CPO from start to
finish. A CPO needs to have good relationship skills and needs to
work well with others in different departments and police agencies.
What is the most frequently asked
questions? People often inquire about why
we have full police powers. It is important to handle all
enforcement situations we encounter. SOME people who recreate
sometimes are involved in a variety of illegal activities. For a
detailed information regarding FULL POLICE POWERS.
What message would you like to leave
the outdoor public? In my line of work I
see many boating recreationalists. I would like to help in
spreading the word about boating safety and refer people to our
state
laws regarding Illinois boating and safety act..
Have a question for a CPO just email us or visit
"ASK
a CPO discussion"
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CPO Gutierrez has attended several boat theft schools
around the country and is currently certified.
Boat manufactures are constantly going out of
business. CPO Gutierrez has a computerized database to keep him up
to date with all the new boats
LM Marine officers are often utilized through out the
state for special details like opening deer season and waterfowl season.
It takes several hours of training to become a Lake
Michigan boarding
officer
www.dnr.state.il.us.......
State Fair in Springfield.
Lake Michigan Patrol for recreational fisherman, pleasure boaters,
and commercial fishermen.
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