                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

APPOINTMENT OF CONSERVATION OFFICERS; QUALIFICATIONS; OATH (§ 10.1-115)

A. The Director, when he deems it necessary, may request the Governor to
commission an individual designated by the Director to act as a conservation
officer of the Commonwealth. Upon concurring with the Director&#8217;s request,
the Governor shall direct the Secretary of the Commonwealth to issue a
conservation officer commission to the designated individual. The Secretary of
the Commonwealth shall deliver a copy of the commission to the Director. Any
individual so commissioned shall hold his commission during his term of
employment with the Department, subject to the provisions of &#xA7; 10.1-118.

B. The Director, upon the request of the Breaks Interstate Park Commission, may
request the Governor to commission an individual who meets the requirements of
&#xA7; 10.1-120 and is designated by the Director to act as a conservation
officer of the Commonwealth. Upon concurring with the Director&#8217;s request,
the Governor shall direct the Secretary of the Commonwealth to issue a
conservation officer commission to the designated individual. The Secretary of
the Commonwealth shall deliver a copy of the commission to the Director.

C. To be qualified to receive a conservation officer commission, a person shall
(i) be at least 21 years of age and (ii) have graduated from high school or
obtained an equivalent diploma.

D. Each conservation officer shall qualify before the clerk of the circuit court
of the city or county in which he resides, or in which he first is assigned
duty, by taking the oaths prescribed by law. An employee of the Breaks
Interstate Park Commission shall qualify before the clerk of the circuit court
of Dickenson County.

E. The Director may designate certain conservation officers to be special
conservation officers. Special conservation officers shall have the same
authority and power as sheriffs throughout the Commonwealth to enforce the laws
of the Commonwealth.

HISTORY: 1994, c. 205; 2015, cc. 64, 489.