A new conservation officer is on the job in Port Alberni. Lorne Rinkel joined the office on Cherry Creek Road last week.
This brings the Port Alberni office back to full strength for the first time since August, central Island supervisor Sgt. Ben York said. A senior conservation officer was already working at the office.
Rinkel “comes to us with 26 years in the law enforcement service in Alberta,” York said.
Rinkel worked as a fish and wildlife officer two decades ago; since then he has worked as a provincial peace officer in the Calgary area.
He recently finished a four-month stint at the conservation training academy in Hinton, AB.
Conservation officers in this region look after Port Alberni and the surrounding Alberni Valley as well as Tofino, Ucluelet, Bamfield and all points in between.
They can be called in to work anywhere on Vancouver Island or on special projects, York said.
Rinkel “is a mature individual with lots of previous experience,” and that will be his strength in the Port Alberni office, York said.
“He’s keen to learn this job in B.C. and I think he’ll be a good addition to our team.
“I suspect he’ll serve his community quite well.”
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