Recent promotions announced in DNR’s Enforcement Division

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Recent promotions announced in DNR’s Enforcement Division
(Released February 23, 2012)

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced several recent promotions in its Enforcement Division.
Conservation Officer (CO) Alex Gutierrez was promoted to second lieutenant and named the new metro regional training officer (RTO), overseeing DNR Enforcement’s safety education programs in Carver, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott and Wright counties. Gutierrez had been serving as a field conservation officer in Forest Lake.

Prior to joining the DNR in 2006, Gutierrez spent four year as a police officer in West Palm Beach, Fla. Before beginning his law enforcement career he worked 10 years for IBM.

Gutierrez was honored in 2009 with the DNR Enforcement Division Education Achievement Award for outreach efforts bringing the DNR firearms safety program to Worthington’s large Hispanic community.

“The DNR is fortunate to have an officer with Alex’s exceptional abilities, dedication and expertise to help us promote the Department’s initiatives,” said Col. Jim Konrad, DNR Enforcement Division director.

CO Jon Paurus was named northwest RTO, servicing Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Clay, Clearwater, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Polk, Roseau, Red Lake, Wadena and Wilkin counties. He had been the conservation officer in the Alexandria field station.

Paurus, a former trooper with the Minnesota State Patrol who joined the DNR in 2009, spent a large part of 2011 as the acting northwest RTO.

“Officer Paurus has proven himself to be an outstanding officer, exemplifying the image of what today’s professional conservation officer should strive to be,” Konrad said. “I’m sure he will continue to perform in the same manner in a position he already has experience in.”

RTOs provide service for DNR mandated education programs, including Hunter Education Firearms Safety, Snowmobile Safety, ATV Safety, OHM and ORV Safety. They also recruit and train safety program instructors/mentors.

RTOs also design, prepare and deliver statutorily required training to conservation officers, including use of firearms, defensive tactics, emergency vehicle operations and CO Academy Training support.

There are six RTOs stationed around the state, with each having approximately 1,200 to 1,400 volunteers under their guidance.

CO David Schottenbauer was promoted from the Princeton field station to second lieutenant and named assistant training coordinator/academy director.

Schottenbauer joined the DNR in 2005 after spending three years as a deputy with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Department. He is a U.S. Navy veteran.

In his new role, Schottenbauer will coordinate, administer, and supervise training of the DNR Conservation Officer Academy to ensure compliance with federal and state laws, policies, and directives. Schottenbauer will also assist with the development, coordination and delivery of law enforcement training requirements for all conservation officers.

“Officer Schottenbauer brings to us a variety of valuable traits and experience,” said Konrad. “His impressive work ethic and highly professional approach to conservation law enforcement have earned him the respect of all those he works with.”

The officers will assume their new duties immediately.