News File Photo Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Jon Sheppard, of Alpena County, emerges from woods near Alpena in the March 2021 News archive photo.

ALPENA — Officer Jon Sheppard, one of two Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers assigned to Alpena County, has been watching over the region’s outdoors since he graduated from DNR’s conservation officer academy two years ago.

The two-year academy was rigorous, training prospective officers in disciplines from emergency vehicle maneuvers to Michigan law to water safety.

“That basically meant swimming for a week straight,” Sheppard said, talking on Friday about the joys and challenges of being a conservation officer.

Today has been designated Conservation Officer Appreciation Day by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to draw attention to the work of the officers in green who protect the state’s natural resources and enforce its laws.

Seldom noticed by the majority of people, according to Sheppard, conservation officers are state-level police with authority to enforce any state law.

That comes as a surprise to many people — especially those he tickets for speeding, Sheppard said. Some drivers, when he stops them in his state-issued pickup truck, say he can’t pull them over.

“I just did,” Sheppard tells them.

Sheppard grew up in metro Detroit, visiting northern Michigan on salmon fishing outings with his dad. He always knew he wanted to go into law enforcement but didn’t choose the DNR until college. It was a natural fit with his love for hunting, hiking, boating, and all things outdoors.

The job allows him to help others do the things he loves, safely and legally, Sheppard said. It comes with a downside, though — he can’t go hunting on opening day.

“It’s not a bad downside,” Sheppard said. “You can work around that.”

A big part of his job is educating people on state laws and answering questions. He’d rather do that than write tickets, he said.

The work of a conservation officer changes from season to season, requiring a rotating set of skills throughout the year.

Just now, officers are between seasons, shifting from ice safety to the upcoming boat season.

Marine patrol on Lake Huron and inland lakes is one of his favorite parts of the job, Sheppard said. Conservation officers keep a lookout for people endangering themselves or others and are called for water rescues.

“I like driving boats,” Sheppard admitted.

Search and rescue missions are rewarding, especially when they have a good resolution, Sheppard said.

He’s been called to find missing hunters and hikers who got turned around. Shortly after he came to Alpena, Sheppard scoured trails on an off-road vehicle searching for a 3-year-old girl with special needs who walked away from a campsite.

That was one of the successful search and rescues, the kind that feel really good, he said.

Much of his work time is spent alone, far from backup, sometimes having to confront people with guns who don’t particularly like him.

Then again, most of the people he encounters are happy to see him and thank him for his work.

Sheppard plans to remain a conservation officer his whole career. He’d be a fool to leave the work, he said.

“I’m very aware I have a cool job,” Sheppard said. “I see that every day.”