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Hollis man earns honor

CONCORD – Todd Szewczyk, of Hollis, a conservation officer for New Hampshire Fish and Game, was recently honored as state conservation officer of the year by the Northeast Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association.

Szewczyk, whose name is pronounced “shef-check,” is a 16-year veteran of N.H. Fish and Game.

He previously worked as a police officer in Milford.

His Fish and Game patrol area includes Hollis, Merrimack, Amherst, Brookline, Mason, Greenville, Milford, Wilton, Mont Vernon and Lyndeborough, a region officials said is “densely populated” and “one of the most active patrol areas in the state.”

Szewczyk pioneered techniques involving use of the Internet to help solve wildlife crimes such as the illegal deer cases that began in 2008, state officials said.

He’s certified as a field training officer, a background investigator, firearms instructor, firearms armorer and personal Breathalyzer test instructor.

Over the last year, he took over the job of assistant chief firearms instructor for Fish and Game’s law enforcement division.

“Officer Szewczyk rose to meet the challenges of his demanding patrol area while always maintaining a high level of professionalism,” said Col. Martin Garabedian, chief of Fish and Game Law Enforcement.

“His creative investigative skills, effective interview techniques and thorough evidence collection capabilities have helped him produce some of the highest quality investigations within our state.”

The Northeast Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association represents the chiefs and command staff of 22 law enforcement organizations throughout the northeastern U.S. and Canada.

Hattie Bernstein can be reached at 673-3100, ext. 24, or hbernstein@cabinet.com.