FORT SILL, Okla. (Sept. 26, 2022) – Conservation Law Enforcement Officers, or CLEOs, are an integral part of safeguarding Fort Sill’s historic and natural resources for future generations according to Capt. David Rodriguez, CLEO supervisor.
He explained that a CLEO is in many ways the same as a game warden. On Fort Sill, this means they work hand-in-hand with Sportsmen’s Services to ensure state and federal guidelines are followed when harvesting game and non-game animals, and fish.
They perform the full spectrum of law enforcement duties and are often called on to back-up their civilian and military police counterparts.
“Wildlife crimes are not only a threat to Fort Sill natural resources, but also a threat to the safety and security of the Fort Sill community.” – David Rodriguez CLEO Supervisor.
The Program
The CLEO program is part of the Department of the Army Civilian Police (DACP) force. According to Rodriquez, the CLEO program supports Fort Sill’s training mission by keeping the training areas (TAs) safe for Soldiers and trainees alike.
"They keep sportsmen from pursuing fish or wildlife in active TAs ensuring that units can conduct exercises without either party being in danger," said Rodriguez.
Fort Sill consists of nearly 94,000 acres of territory in Southwest Oklahoma. This includes lakes and ponds, historical sites, cultural heritage sites, deer and elk herds, flocks of wild turkeys, and migratory birds, along with all the other game and non-game animals indigenous to the area.
Additionally, the CLEOs respond to wildlife situations in active TAs. For example, elk herds will sometimes wander too close to an artillery unit's target box, or trainees will encounter dangerous wildlife in a bivouac site, or on a firing range.
In any of these events, a CLEO will respond to the area and ensure the safety of humans and wildlife alike, by either removing the animal or keeping a safe distance and allowing them to leave the area.
In the event that sportsmen or sightseers are in an active TA or off-limits area, a CLEO will respond and safely escort the person/s out of the restricted area. The officer also ensures they understand where the open and the denied areas are and why the denied areas are unavailable to them.
“You’ve got to be prepared for the unexpected.” - Officer Damon Woodfork.
On Patrol
“A general day for a Conservation Law Enforcement Officer on Fort Sill consists of checking, lots of checking," said Damon Woodfork, CLEO. "We check all of the gates on the East Range, The West Range, and Quanah Range to ensure that they are secured."
CLEOs also make sure any sportsmen actively in the training areas are properly checked in through the i-Sportman app and are in compliance with regulations. They inspect many of the recreational use areas, ponds, lakes, etc. to make sure people aren’t leaving trash, polluting, or otherwise causing damage to the area.
They also check other specified ranges and secured areas.
"We drive between 90 and 110 miles each shift,” said Woodfork.
CLEOs also keep tabs on Fort Sill’s historical and heritage sites, said Woodfork. These sites are often targeted by antique hunters and those who do not understand the irreparable damage that can be caused by careless exploration. In either case, they actively work to protect these sites as well.
To speak with a Fort Sill Conservation Law Enforcement Officer, call (580) 442-2686
If you would like more information about hunting or fishing on Fort Sill please contact the Sportsman Services Center at (580) 442-3553
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