Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday introduced the collection of a longtime Washington state outdoor official to be the subsequent head of Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Jeff Davis, a 22-year veteran of Washington’s Division of Fish and Wildlife, will take the helm of CPW, the governor’s workplace introduced in a information launch.
“We have been lucky to have many certified candidates however Jeff’s in depth expertise serving to to handle a big group, his data of wildlife and recreation points, his dedication to range and inclusivity inside and outdoors his group and keenness for looking, fishing and outside recreation made Jeff a really perfect match,” Dan Gibbs, government director of the Colorado Division of Pure Assets, mentioned in an announcement.
Davis has served since 2000 as an space habitat biologist, forest and fish part supervisor and assistant director of Washington’s Habitat Program, based on the information launch. He’s led salmon restoration and crafted laws and regulatory approaches to habitat and biodiversity conservation and local weather resiliency, state officers mentioned.
The brand new CPW chief has additionally “championed inner range and fairness priorities” and has in depth expertise working throughout outdoor and regulatory teams.
“Washington State faces comparable points as Colorado of balancing outside recreation and wildlife administration, species introduction and different wildlife administration and habitat points,” Davis mentioned in an announcement. “However I look ahead to partaking with the entire key stakeholders in Colorado and I’m excited to guide a brand new group and be taught extra of CPW’s challenges whereas constructing on their in depth successes.”
Polis referred to as Davis the “proper particular person to maneuver Colorado ahead.”
His appointment comes 5 months after the earlier CPW director, Dan Prenzlow, retired following an investigation right into a racist comment directed at a Black worker on the company’s annual convention final yr.
Prenzlow was making an attempt to thank the worker, saying, “There she is, at the back of the bus” — a reference that harkens again to Jim Crow-era legal guidelines mandating Black individuals sit within the rear of public buses.
A 3rd-party investigation discovered Prenzlow created an unhealthy office and couldn’t be an efficient chief within the wake of the incident. It additionally discovered he violated a bunch of state and departmental insurance policies.
The state agreed to a $50,000 settlement with the retiring division head, together with greater than $26,000 for his “emotional misery.”
Colorado officers additionally paid greater than $75,000 to settle claims introduced by Aloe Lee, the CPW worker focused by Prenzlow’s remark.
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