Leith Konydyk, pictured at an in-service training session
Leith Konyndyk has been honored as the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Wildlife Officer of the Year for the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA).
The award recipient was announced by Col. Darren Rider, TWRA Boating and Law Enforcement division chief.
Mr. Konyndyk serves as a wildlife officer in TWRA Region II District 22’s Lincoln County.
He was selected among other TWRA law enforcement officers to become the state recipient. He will be recognized during the annual SEAFWA meeting set for Nov. 1-4 in Asheville, N.C. While assigned to Lincoln County, Mr. Konyndyk works throughout the district’s 13 counties.
Also honored as TWRA region and district selections were Sam Bedwell, Region I and Jake Yoes, District 11; Dustin Deaton, District 21; Kyle Joe McSpadden, Region III and Pete Geesling, District 31: Chris Seay, Region IV and Joel Hyden, District 41. The officers were selected for their efforts in teamwork, public outreach, innovation, attitude, leadership, achievements and accomplishments.
“It’s always a difficult situation when one officer is selected out of a group of officers that have all gone above and beyond the duty of ensuring Tennessee hunters, anglers and boaters are provided safe and enjoyable recreational opportunities,” said Mr. Rider. “All these officers are to be commended for their professionalism and efforts they displayed this year. All these officers had a fantastic year, but Leith really excelled in all aspects of his job. His achievements and accomplishments were outstanding.”
Among Mr. Leith’s activities during the year, he conducted educational and outreach events for more than 3,300 participants that included a youth fishing rodeo; Scholastic Clay Target Program; sportsman groups and an ATV safety at Tennessee Outdoor Youth Summit. He also coordinated a Kid’s Hunting for a Cure deer hunt that raised more than $50,000 that was donated to St. Jude Hospital. He taught and certified 109 students in hunter education.
Mr. Konyndyk’s enforcement duties resulted in the inspection of more than 600 hunters, fishermen and boaters for compliance. These efforts produced a total of 129 court citations and 16 physical arrests. He also issued 45 warning citations and assisted other officers with 72 cases. His efforts were highlighted by 91 citations, 20 warnings and 12 arrests for deer hunting violations.
“Leith’s attitude and leadership efforts are also to be commended,” said Mr. Rider. He has been trained in Individual and Group Crisis Prevention Management, Concerns of Police Survivors and Traumas for Law Enforcement through the American Police Chaplains Association and has become a chaplain for the agency.
Mr. Konyndyk is very active as an Instructor for the Agency, he teaches ATV safety for not only Agency officers but for the National Guard, Drug Task Force, ABC, THP and the U.S Forest Service. Mr. Leith recently completed FTO training where he instructs new officers in ethics, community relationships, search warrants, subpoenas, arrest warrants and suspect interviewing.