Illinois Conservation Police Lodge # 146
Established in 1982
What is a Conservation Police Officer (CPO)?
Illinois Conservation Police have full police powers for the entire state of Illinois covering all codes of the Illinois Compiled Statutes. We perform a variety of Duties ranging from fish and game enforcement to search and rescue and home land security. You may know them better as the “Game Warden.” A CPOs focus is to protect the public and the state’s natural resources.
CPOs on Illinois Waterways and Lakes
Illinois Conservation Police have full police powers for the entire state of Illinois covering all codes of the Illinois Compiled Statutes. We perform a variety of Duties ranging from fish and game enforcement to search and rescue and home land security. You may know them better as the “Game Warden.” A CPOs focus is to protect the public and the state’s natural resources.
Did you know
There are over 690,000 licensed fishermen and hunters in Illinois. CPOs are the only law enforcement officers who are dedicated to enforcing Illinois’ hunting and fishing laws.
How many do we have?
The are only 101 field officers employed by the Department of Natural Resources statewide. This equals out to 1 CPO for every 450 square miles in Illinois. Compare this to 1500-2000 Illinois State Troopers or 1 trooper per 33 square miles.
Duties
CPOs do more than enforce conservation laws. They deal with meth labs, illegal marijuana grows, DUIs, execute search warrants, respond to calls of domestic battery, robberies, and assist other police agencies. CPOs work in remote locations where assistance can be over 30 minutes away