At least 26 more wildlife enforcement officers will be on patrol statewide, as a new group of FWC officers graduated from the Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy this March.

The 6-month-long program teaches recruits tools such as accuracy with firearms, alligator handling, vessel operation, defensive tactics, all-terrain vehicle operation and BUI/DUI identification. FWC officers are authorized to enforce all state laws and federal fisheries and wildlife laws.

Officers of note. Two officers are from out of state; Officer Jarod Molnar is from Georgia and is assigned to Palm Beach County, and officer Evan Laskowski is from Maryland and is assigned to Glades County. Raquel Daniels set precedent as the first black female to join the FWC patrol team. She’s expected to cover Monroe County.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) division patrols 34 million acres of public and private land, 8,200 miles of tidal shoreline, 3 million acres of lakes and 12,000 miles of rivers and streams. The officers are expected to spread out through 17 different counties in Florida.