The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Wildlife and Fisheries Division has nominated Sgt. Alan Roach for the 2019 AFWA Conservation Law Enforcement Award.

AWFD Chief Michael Weathers nominated Roach for the award because of his dedication and work ethic. Roach is currently stationed in Dallas County, part of District III. Weathers is based in Montgomery.

“His reputation and skill as an instructor are impeccable,” Weathers said. “Though his work ethic, skill and subject matter expertise make him valuable to his fellow officer it is his intuition that has proven to be what proves the most valuable to resource protection in our state.”

Roach, who will celebrate his 30th year with the agency next year, said he doesn’t caught up in accolades.

“I don’t work for awards and recognition,” Roach said. “I’m just doing my job. I don’t have any thoughts about the nomination I’m a game warden. I’m passionate about protecting Alabama’s Wildlife Resources. The reason I became the game warden is to protect the resource.”

Weathers continued his praise of Roach in his nomination for spearheading Operation Overwatch last year. With the assistance of 15 officers, Operation Overwatch surveilled popular paddlefish hot spots and documented 135 cases in less than a week on the Alabama River.

“Were it not for the good old-fashioned game warden intuition that Sgt. Roach possesses and for the work ethic of the officers in District III, this gross abuse of a valuable resource would likely still be occurring,” Weathers said. “The quick actions of those officers involved in Operation Overwatch ultimately led to the closure of this limited take season for the foreseeable future.”

Lt. Cliff Robinson, Roach’s immediate upervisor in District III, said the award is a huge honor. The winner will be announced in September.

“It’s a big deal,” Robinson said. “He’s the nominee for officer of the year in the state of Alabama.”