ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A northeast Florida wildlife officer who rescued a man trapped in a Flagler County swamp for days and helped law enforcement agencies on other cases last year received a national award this week.
Officer Lee Lawshe of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission named Officer of the Year from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies at a ceremony Wednesday in St. Louis.
"I accepted this award on behalf of all conservation officers across the country," Lawshe said. "I know how hard we all work to protect the nation's resources."
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Lawshe, who is based in St. Johns County, crawled on his hands and knees and used machetes to cut through brush to find Guss Baker of Hastings, who had become trapped in dense swamp inside the Turkey Island Hunt Club near Espanola in June 2013.
"That's one of the worst swamps I've ever been in," Lawshe said at the time.
Also last year Lawshe assisted the Florida Highway Patrol in finding a driver who had fled a traffic accident and was hiding in the woods, helped the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office apprehend a suspect during a manhunt in a wooded area, searched for evidence in the woods regarding a burnt vehicle case and helped recover a body in a murder investigation.
"The number of incidents Officer Lawshe has been involved with is truly impressive," said Col. Calvin Adams, director of the FWC's Division of Law Enforcement. "But while those accomplishments are great, it is his attitude and humble demeanor that set him apart."
Lawshe was named FWC's officer of the year, which put him in the running for the national award.
AFWA is made up of the conservation agencies from 56 U.S. states and territories, as well as provinces in Canada and Mexico.
In addition to the cases mentioned above and others, Lawshe reached nearly 3,000 people in 2013 through hunter education classes, elementary school demonstrations, fairs, parades and other events.
"We're fortunate to have Officer Lawshe in Florida," Adams said. "He provides exceptional service on a daily basis and his recent award puts him in a position to set an example for others across the nation."
Lawshe comes from a long line of outdoorsmen. After serving in the U.S. Army, his passion for the outdoors led him to pursue a career with the FWC. He began work in Martin County in 2008 and now lives in St. Johns County with his wife and two sons