NWTF Kansas Honors Cleveland with 2024 Officer of the Year Award

“Officer Cleveland has been and continues to be a great asset to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks in protecting the state’s natural resources,” KDWP Lt. Amanda Alexander said. “His actions speak louder than words when it comes to his relentless pursuit of individuals taking turkeys illegally and violating other wildlife laws. He is known to go above and beyond the expectations of normal law enforcement duties, mentors other game wardens on tactics to apprehend wildlife violators, sets a positive example for those around him and is a great role model for future generations of hunters and anglers. Officer Cleveland takes pride in his work and makes excellent cases with thoughtful and thorough investigations. His dedication to protecting the state’s natural resources continues to be an asset to the counties he patrols as well as the department itself.” 

The NWTF Kansas Wildlife Officer of the Year Award is presented to individuals who have excelled and demonstrated exceptional performance in teamwork, leadership and accomplishments. Special consideration is given to an officer’s case involvement, public relations, attitude, enthusiasm, professionalism, dependability, investigative skills and support of hunting heritage.

Cleveland has served the KDWP for 14 years as a game warden and is responsible for Mitchell County in northcentral Kansas. Cleveland encounters a variety of law enforcement issues in his daily activities and is often called on during days off or at odd hours of the evening and morning to respond to his constituents and protect Kansas’ natural resources. He is highly involved in his family and community and his job serving the Sunflower State’s natural resources, and he takes immense pride in all three.

Cleveland will attend the upcoming NWTF Convention in Nashville, where he will represent Kansas and be considered for the National NWTF Wildlife Officer of the Year Award.  

About the National Wild Turkey Federation 

Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 23 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $9 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.