For his unwavering commitment to boating safety education, Sergeant Brad Stoop with the Commission’s Law Enforcement Division has been awarded the Southern Region Educator of the Year for 2020 by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA).

A twenty-year veteran of the Law Enforcement Division, Sgt. Stoop currently oversees four northeastern counties in the District 1 portion of the state. Over the years, he has shown himself to be a leader in the promotion of boating safety not just to the community, but to his fellow officers as well.

In 2019, Sgt. Stoop helped create and coordinate a Law Enforcement and First Responders boating safety class for a local fire department and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) wildlife damage agents. Forty firefighters received extensive classroom and on-the-water training over the two-day course, including basic boat handling, docking and rescue procedures. He would later work to offer the course across the state of North Carolina and beyond.

“I am truly lucky for the opportunity to work alongside the men and women of the Law Enforcement Division,” said Sgt. Stoop. “It is an honor to be chosen for this award by my fellow officers. Their integrity and dedication is unmatched, and I am proud to be part of such a team.”

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission commends Sgt. Stoop for his commitment to promoting safety education both on and off the water. He is truly an asset to the agency and the people of North Carolina.