A United States Marine Corps veteran with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources who is assigned to patrol Smith Mountain Lake in Bedford County has been honored with a state performance award.
Conservation Police Officer (CPO) First Class Adam Roberts was presented with the 2023 Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award during the August meeting of the Board of Wildlife Resources.
Roberts was the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) 2023 Operation Dry Water Officer of the Year.
A Tennessee native, he began his career with DWR in 2018 and is assigned to Franklin County and often patrols Smith Mountain Lake. In 2023, he participated in 15 boating related outreach events including the Smith Mountain Lake Association Water Safety Day where he led the DWR presence and taught elementary school children how to safely paddle a kayak.
In addition to boating safety outreach, Roberts participated in 33 boat patrols, investigated nine boat accidents including one that resulted in the loss of life, and made 19 boating related arrests in 2023. During Operation Dry Water weekend, Roberts inspected 30 vessels, contacted 114 boaters, detected 12 violations and made an operating under the influence arrest.
“From the very beginning, CPO Roberts has shown exceptional professionalism, winning his academy class Board Award,” said Col. John J. Cobb. “Since then, he has become the go-to officer in his area and steps up whenever called upon. He exhibits a high level of professionalism and consistently promotes the agency mission through his support of others. He is a true asset to the Commonwealth, his fellow officers and the boating community.”
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Rebecca Barnabi
