Nebraskaland

April 2026 • Nebraskaland 55 Search and rescue efforts are more common than not. A f leet of all- terrain vehicles, utility-task vehicles, a dva n ce d p a t ro l b o a t s, p e rso n a l watercrafts and airboats are vital for searching missing people in remote areas or drowning victims. L a r g e r l a k e s , s u c h a s L a k e McConaughy, can be unpredictable during storms, capsizing boats and stranding people in the water. It's also not uncommon for a duck hunter to drown or an ice fisherman to go under, said Shepler, sharing that his team might respond to about 15 sportsmen-related drowning incidents per year. During the flood of 2019, law enforcement patrol boats were used to rescue stranded people in Fremont. Shepler also told a story of how technology helped save a hiker who had gotten lost deep in a Scotts Bluff canyon. Although the hiker's phone died, conservation officers were able to locate him by drone, after which local emergency medical services came to the rescue. The conservation officer's green and gray uniform has not changed much in the last 25 years, but a load- bearing vest with body armor is a new addition. Although Shepler admits the vests can make officers look more aggressive, their adoption was purely driven by comfort. "They're designed so that everything besides your gun can be carried on your vest. And it's a load-bearing vest that takes the weight off your hips, which historically has caused back problems for law enforcement," Shepler said. When fully loaded, these vests can weigh as much as 15 pounds. In 2021, conservation officers also transitioned from the Glock .40 caliber to the 9mm. Advances in ammunition ballistics has come a long way for the 9mm, and the smaller-frame gun allows officers with smaller hands to shoot more comfortably and with less recoil; the 9mm also can hold more ammo in each magazine. A COMPLEX JOB All in all, a conservation officer's job has become — if not harder — more complex and diverse. Ironically, officers look forward to the slowness o f t h e f a l l a n d w i n te r h u n t i n g season after coming off the long park and boating season, with non- c o n s u m p t ive o u td o o r re c re a t i o n becoming increasingly popular. "Most of our calls in the summer a re re a c t ive t o d i s t u r b a n c e s — domestic violence, drugs, alcohol, that kind of stuff," Shepler said. But during hunting season, most interactions are positive and more about compliance checks. In addition to hunting and fishing law enforcement, conservation officers must also maintain proficiency in boat operation, boating under the influence enforcement and general law enforcement in state park areas, including handling alcohol use, drug use, traffic, domestic violence, assaults, etc. Thus, training requirements h ave a l s o i n c re a s e d . O n to p o f state-mandated firearms shooting qualifications, the law enforcement division also has added additional training to make sure their officers are prepared, including dynamic shooting, scenario-based training. Conservation officer Curt Prohaska is a sergeant in the southeast district. After retiring from the National State Patrol, where he served 21 years as a police officer, deputy sheriff, and a state trooper, and transitioning to a career in the financial industry, Prohaska realized that public service and law enforcement was where his passion truly lay. As a CO, Prohaska enjoys combining law enforcement with outdoor education, stewardship and long-term resource protection.

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