The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has hired former Forks Police Chief Doug Price as a commissioned law enforcement officers who will be covering DNR-managed lands in Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap and Mason counties. His position was recently created by the DNR.

Price was sworn in on March 21 by Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark.

A prepared statement from the DNR states: “Officers Essman and Price join the DNR Law Enforcement Service to support our ongoing mission to protect Washington State trust lands and their resources from theft and misuse, and to educate and protect the public using those lands,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark.

The DNR provided a background on Price’s law enforcement career: "Price, who recently served as Police Chief of the City of Forks, is a 25-year veteran of the Washington State Patrol. His primary duties will focus on. Within his patrol area are more than 430,000 acres of state trust lands, conservation areas, and other forestlands. Price fills a newly created position to increase DNR’s law enforcement and response capacities on the Olympic Peninsula."

The duties of a DNR law enforcement officer was outlined in the press release announcing Price’s appointment. They include:

• Monitoring the use of the state’s Discover Pass on vehicles visiting DNR-managed recreation lands;

• Enforcing vehicle speeds and regulations on state trust land roads and trails;

• Investigating and preventing vehicle accidents, wildfires and theft of natural resources, such as timber and other forest products;

• Educating the public about safe and sustainable use of public lands and resources.