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Name: Holly
Vadbunker
Kankakee County
District:
Region II District 3
Years of
Experience:
12
Specialized
training:
A member of the mounted
program before the program was disbanded
due to budget constraints.
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Breathe alcohol operator
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Waterfowl training
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Forensics training
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Bike
patrol officer
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Field training officer
Awards:
One of four recipients of the IDNR Law enforcement 2001 Merit Award
CPO
Holly Vadbunker and Doug Mau, a maintenance worker at Kankakee River
State Park, were honored for their decisive act of heroism in April of
2001 after rescuing five women from the Kankakee River during high
water. The women overturned their canoes near Altorf Island and became
trapped by the fast current, hanging onto one another in a shallow
section of the river. Holly and Doug responded immediately by using
materials readily available to reach the women. They tied an emergency
rope to the bank and used it to “leapfrog” out to the women and help
them back to the shore one at a time. A park visitor assisted as
instructed by anchoring the rope on shore as they crossed the high
current to rescue the capsized canoeists.
Why
did you become a CPO? I
became a CPO with the hope of protecting our state’s resources, so that
generations to come would be able to enjoy them. I also wanted to help
educate the public about the Conservation and Recreational laws.
Most
Interesting Arrest? After
working the same subjects for
 approximately
three years, Officer Mike Bronson and I compiled a case against two
subjects who illegally took five deer during shotgun deer weekend. Search warrants were obtained,
seizing the deer at their residences, commercial buildings, and various
areas where the subjects tried to conceal evidence. We worked about 27
hours straight to completely process the subjects, inventory the
evidence, and ensure that the five illegally taken deer were
successfully donated to the Sportsman Against Hunger Program before the
meat spoiled.
. One of
my first experiences after completing the academy and
 entering
the real world of conservation law enforcement involved CPO Mike Bronson
and one of his many felony musseling cases. After watching the same subjects from a
nearby field for approximately eight hours in 90+ degree heat, which
included numerous tics and mosquito bites and a variety of spiders
crawling all over us, the subjects were apprehended for illegally
gathering mussels. However this
was only accomplished after they
initially refused to stop their vehicle despite my repeated verbal commands and the fact that they
drug me with their vehicle as I hung onto their driver’s side door. The offenders
finally decided to stop, when they realized I wasn’t going to let go.
The mussels were later returned safely to the river
and the subjects were found to be part of an international poaching
ring.
I’ve
also made numerous and unusual drug related cases while checking sport
fishermen and patrolling the parks in my district.
What areas of
conservation would you like to specialize in?
I enjoy enforcing fish and game laws, as well as working boat, bike, and
park patrol. Holly admits that she finds all of the different areas in
conservation law enforcement equally interesting.
Officers that
inspire you? I’ve learned
something new and inspiring from every officer that I’ve worked with.
Outside
Interests?
I’ve lived on the river all my life and
have always enjoyed boating, water-skiing, and fishing. I also play
softball and hunt occasionally with my dad.
Retirement goals?
Holly states that retirement
plans are along way off and remarks that she has many goals to
accomplish in her career before she will call it a win.
Is it hard to
keep professional when an offender is upset?
Training and the practice of
being a professional generally are the most successful approach to
dealing with an upset offender.
What
is the easiest and hardest part of the job?
The hardest part is dealing with the lack of interest from some of the
court systems, it can become very frustrating when you spend the time
and effort to put together a good case, only to have the violator walk
away with little or no repercussion for their actions. The easiest part
(nothing is easy in law enforcement, ha ha) is going to work everyday at
a job that you enjoy
Has the community been supportive?
I believe that most people in
my community appreciate the conservation police and their efforts in
protecting the natural resources of the state, and they understand that
due to the large population of people and limited resources, laws are
needed to ensure a balance.
Ever get your
truck stuck? You’re not
doing your job if you don’t get it stuck; good game cases aren’t made
on the highway!
How do you want
the IL Conservation Police Dept to improve in the next few years?
At a minimum, we need to maintain the staffing and
professionalism our department is known for, but with the ever
increasing recreational users and loss of habitat and recreational
space, I would like to see all the vacant positions filled to help
support our the current field CPO’s efforts.
What type of
person makes a good CPO? An
independent, self-motivated person who has a sincere interest in the
enforcement of Conservation and Recreational Laws.
What is your most
frequently asked question? I
am frequently asked if I am a park ranger and why I carry a gun. The
public has a big misconception of what CPOs do, many people are not
aware that we also
enforce all state
laws pertaining to the criminal code, the vehicle code, controlled
substances, and littering laws, and arrests on warrants to name a few.
CPOs primarily
enforce resource and recreational laws (fish and game, timber, ginseng,
endangered and threatened species, boating and snowmobile laws,
including operating under the influence/driving under the influence (O.U.I.),
as well as investigating boat, snowmobile, and hunting accidents.
However we continuously encounter other violations during our unique
patrols, and the training we receive to enforce a variety of criminal
laws simply helps us better serve the public.
Agents' entry on lands and waters. The officers,
employees, and agents of the Department, for the purposes of
investigation and to exercise the rights, powers, and duties vested and
that may be vested in it, may enter and cross
all lands and waters in this State, doing
no damage to private property. (Source: P.A. 91-239, eff. 1-1-00.) (20
ILCS 805/805-535) Sec. 805-535. Conservation Police Officers. In
addition to the arrest powers prescribed by law, Conservation Police
Officers are conservators of the peace and as such have all powers
possessed by policemen, except that they may exercise those powers
anywhere in this State.
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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. 
