forcement program while in college, and after he graduated with
a bachelor’s in criminal justice, he was hired.
Ask Gill what he likes most about his job and he’ll tell you
that it’s protecting wildlife for future generations, whether
that involves putting out wildfires, writing citations for night
hunting, or issuing warnings against illegal fishing. He also
enjoys interacting with people, especially children who come
out to participate in events like a turkey hunt for handicapped
kids. “Seeing those kids come out,” Gill says, “puts a smile on
anybody’s face.”
MENTOR Captain Roy Brown
Area Supervisor
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Bret Gill has impressed Captain Roy Brown, Gill’s supervisor since
2005. “Being the type of person that he is—hospitable, easy to get
along with, and responsible—we assigned him to one of the more
rural counties in florida,” says Brown. “Bret got right in there, introduced himself, and let them know he was there to help. He’s done
excellent work.”
like Gill, Brown is happiest when he’s in the outdoors. “Being on
this job, i get to do what most people get to do only two weeks
out of the year,” Brown says, “which is being outside, recreating,
enjoying the outdoors, not having to worry about fighting traffic ….”
Brown admits, however, that it’s not always picture perfect.
He recalls a time when there were more wildlife law enforcement officers assaulted in the line of duty than in any other law enforcement
agency in florida. “it’s always been a dangerous job,” Brown says.
When he started out in his career in the late 1970s, two officers were
typically assigned to each county, but they rarely worked together.
“You were out there by yourself,” Brown says, “and you may [have
to] check a group of hunters doing something illegal, and they’re all
armed with guns, and there’s five or six of them and one of you.”
Brown has had his share of dangerous encounters. in 1985 as he
was driving along a deserted road in Central florida, he pulled up
to a man standing by a vehicle that was stuck in an orange grove. “i
stopped to see if i could help him, and he attacked me with a knife,”
Brown says. the man was an escaped prisoner, and what followed
was a scuffle between Brown and the prisoner and his traveling
companion. “i literally had to fight for my life,” Brown says. He somehow managed to radio for help. “Miraculously, a deputy was able to
find me in that orange grove and i was able to get them arrested and
in custody without anyone being hurt seriously.”
ironically, it was never the law enforcement aspect of the job that
appealed most to Brown. “Yes, it is a law enforcement job, but it puts
me out where i want to be, protecting fish and wildlife resources.”
Though Gill works long hours for his “day job,” he also volunteers
for the Commission’s Special Operations Group—an extension of
the law enforcement division—which means Gill must occasionally travel to other cities to aide in rescue operations, as he did in
2008 when Hurricane Gustav hit Gonzales, Louisiana.
In his free time—when he has some—Gill likes to go hunting,
fishing, and horseback riding. “I still do the stuff I grew up doing.”
When he’s on the job, this diligent law enforcement officer (who
“can’t believe [he gets] paid to do this”) follows one foolproof rule:
“You just keep your ears to the ground and listen,” he says.
Divya Abhat is Production Editor/Science Writer for The Wildlife Society.
on a mission to garner experience for the florida fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission (formerly the florida Game and fresh-water fish Commission), Brown earned a degree in criminal justice
in 1978, then began working at the Plant City florida Department
as a young 135-pound 21-year-old. “i’m neither 21 nor 135 pounds
anymore,” he says. “time has a way of changing [people].”
three years later Brown was ready for the Commission and has
been there ever since. over the years he has organized fishing
tournaments for children and helped open several fish and wildlife
refuges to the public. today, as area supervisor, Brown is in charge
of seven counties, supervising three lieutenants and 21 officers.
though time may have altered some aspects of Brown’s professional life, others have remained untouched. When he began his career
32 years ago, “it was really more of a mission to me than it was a
job,” he says, “and still is.”
Credit: Courtesy of Roy Brown
Roy Brown points to an incision in the belly of a 12-foot alligator that attacked a
local man and swallowed his arm. Brown killed the gator and retrieved the severed
limb, which physicians attempted to reattach. “Unfortunately,” says Brown, “the
doctors were not successful.”
