From left to right Major Eddie Skena, Capt. Stephen McManus, Sgt. Villere Reggio, Sgt. Joshua Laviolette, Col. Chad Hebert and Major Rick Owens
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents were honored at the Sept. 1 Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting held in Baton Rouge.
Shikar-Safari Club International presented their 2021 Conservation Officer of the Year award for Louisiana to LDWF Sgt. Joshua Laviolette. The Shikar-Safari award recognizes an agent from each state for outstanding efforts in conservation law enforcement.
The 2021-22 Mississippi Flyway Waterfowl Protection Officer of the Year award went to Sgt. Villere Reggio.
Sgt. Laviolette has been an LDWF agent for seven years and mainly patrols Orleans Parish. He is one of the leaders in the state in total case production especially as it relates to the boating safety and recreational fishing enforcement. He is also active in the department’s training program serving as defensive tactics, water survival and tactical first aid instructor.
Sgt. Reggio is a 20-year veteran with the LDWF Enforcement Division and mainly patrols Plaquemines Parish. His migratory waterfowl enforcement efforts have resulted in numerous cases including issuing 42 citations and seizing 85 ducks during the opening weekend of the 2021-22 waterfowl season.