Division of Law Enforcement

Col. Calvin Adams, Director
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600
850-488-6251

Mission: Protecting Florida's natural resources and people through proactive and responsive law enforcement services.

Benefits

• Protects Florida's fish, wildlife and habitat to ensure their long-term well-being and continued viability for educational, recreational and commercial activities.
• Safeguards public safety and enriches the outdoor experience of residents and visitors.
• Enforces laws to protect the resources of Florida and the safety of people using these resources when hunting, boating, freshwater and saltwater fishing, visiting state parks, viewing wildlife, fishing commercially or processing seafood.
• Conducts search-and-rescue missions to protect the public statewide - saving about 1,000 people each year.
• Enforces boating and waterways laws and promotes educational activities to enhance boating safety for 4 million residents and visitors - an economic value of more than $16.8 billion.
• Enhances boating safety and waterway experiences through maintenance and repair of 200 boat ramps, construction of new boat ramps and placement and maintenance of waterway markers.
• Offers what is often the sole law enforcement presence in remote areas of the state.
• A unique jurisdiction and specialized training, capabilities and equipment enable officers to respond to emergencies, disasters and other critical incidents through coordinated efforts with local, state and federal mutual-aid partners.
• Supports domestic and homeland security initiatives.
• Encourages the next generation of conservationists and enhances outdoor experiences through education, public outreach partnerships and youth-oriented programs.

Division of Law Enforcement sections

Field Operations

The Field Operations section’s six regions throughout the state are responsible for uniformed patrol and investigative law enforcement services. The officers and investigators protect fish, wildlife and the environment as well as Florida's residents and visitors. FWC investigators are able to conduct both overt (uniform) and covert (plainclothes) investigations. The FWC can target hard-core commercial violators by conducting long-term undercover investigations. Investigators are also responsible for inspecting personal and commercial native and exotic wildlife facilities as well as investigating hunting and boating accidents and environmental crimes.

This section also provides statewide coordination of all aviation, offshore vessel, K-9 and Special Operations Group activities. Aviation assets play a vital role in the agency’s effort to enforce conservation and boating laws, protect endangered and threatened species and safeguard outdoor users. The division’s offshore patrol vessels concentrate on offshore fisheries and protected marine areas as well as public safety. The K-9 teams are specially trained in tracking and wildlife detection. In addition to their law enforcement functions, they have proved to be great outreach and education tools for youth and adults.

Law Enforcement Chief of Staff

Boating & Waterways

This section’s employees manage state waterways and their markers and signs to protect boaters and wildlife. They coordinate the removal of derelict vessels and the development of boating infrastructure. They use many methods to promote boating safety, from education and outreach to investigation and analysis of boating accident data. Staff also improves and increases boating access to Florida’s waters through two grant programs.

Policy and Planning

This section supports the Division by providing planning on continuous improvement projects, coordinating accreditation, developing policies and organizing staff and audit inspections.

Law Enforcement Programs

Technology

This section is responsible for the technology that allows FWC officers to operate daily in the field. Staff researches, tests and acquires new computer and telecommunications technology; manages the computer-aided dispatch system, which enhances officer safety and efficiency; and coordinates with other state law enforcement agencies, using the statewide radio system Joint Task Force.

Investigations

This section supports the investigators in the region, providing direction and oversight. All captive wildlife and long-term undercover, environmental crimes and commercial resource investigations are coordinated by this staff as well. This section also oversees the Internet crimes unit and forensics program.

Training

This section provides professional basic recruit and advanced training and career development programs to officers statewide. Staff trains FWC officers in the aspects of nontraditional policing as well as ensuring basic law enforcement standards are met and maintained. This section also manages the FWC’s valuable reserve officer program.

Intelligence

This section provides intelligence information to officers in the field and coordinates with other agencies and entities to ensure safe outdoor experiences for Florida’s residents and visitors. This section also utilizes the Division’s unique capabilities, equipment and expertise to coordinate search, rescue and recovery services. Through mutual-aid efforts with local, state and federal partners, this section helps provide efficiency in emergency responses to critical incidents and environmental and natural disasters.

Fleet, Property and Record Services

This section supports the officers in the field by ensuring they have the best operating patrol fleet available. Control of the Division’s assets, data entry of arrest/warning citations and management of these records are other vital support services provided by this section.

Division of Law Enforcement budget summary

Glossary of funding sources