TIP honors McBroom as Officer of the Year

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TIP honors McBroom as Officer of the Year
(Released January 30, 2012)

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation Officer Dan McBroom of Rochester has been named the 2011 Minnesota Turn In Poacher (TIP) “Officer of the Year.”
McBroom was honored for successfully utilizing the TIP program to educate the public about the impact poaching has on the state’s natural resources.

He said every conservation officer takes TIP calls seriously and follows up on the complaint.

“Conservation officers need the extra eyes and ears of the public to stop poaching. TIP provides an easy way for them to report what they see and hear,” McBroom said.

The TIP number (800-652-9093) is printed on the back of every license sold by the DNR, and is available to cell phone users by keying in #TIP.

McBroom began his DNR career in 2007 after spending 24 years with the Minnesota State Patrol.

He uses a variety of methods to apprehend poachers, including paying attention to moon phases, weather patterns and habitat changes, as well as observing animal and human travel patterns. He also utilizes trail cameras, surveillance, aircraft and work crews to curb poaching.

McBroom is dedicated to not only protecting fish and wildlife resources, but also promoting the TIP program by working many sport shows across the state and spearheading the Rochester TIP fund-raising banquet.

The TIP Conservation Officer of the Year award is presented to one conservation officer annually who best represents the mission of TIP during the course of their duties.

McBroom said he is honored to receive the award, but praised the work of others involved with the TIP program. “I know that there are a lot of conservation officers in the field who are very deserving of this award,” McBroom said, “but the people who truly should be recognized are the volunteers that make TIP work. They put in long hours and work very hard to make the program a success.”

TIP is a private nonprofit organization operating on private donations. TIP accomplishes its mission of protecting and preserving Minnesota’s natural resources by providing educational materials and by funding rewards paid directly to citizens who call in tips that lead to arrests of game law violators.