In honor of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, the second week of April, the Michigan DNR recognizes the dedicated staff who operate the Report All Poaching hotline – a leader among North American conservation law enforcement agencies.
In addition to supporting conservation officers and other department personnel, dispatchers also help the public by supplying general DNR information, locating wildlife rehabilitators and answering questions about rules and regulations. The dispatchers work in concert with other federal, state and local agencies, making the RAP hotline an essential communications resource.
Last year, the RAP hotline received more than 37,000 calls and 12,000 text messages. These resulted in over 8,100 actionable complaints for conservation officers to investigate in the service of natural resources protection and public safety.
“Our knowledgeable dispatchers are often the first line of communication with the public and deliver professional customer service and essential support to conservation officers,” said Asst. Chief David Malloch, DNR Law Enforcement Division. “We are grateful for their tireless effort, which often involves working long shifts and managing high-stress, sensitive calls.”
If you witness or learn about a poaching event, immediately report it by calling 800-292-7800 or filling out the online reporting form. Tipsters may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of a poacher. Learn more at Michigan.gov/RAP.
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