Operation Cody: An Undercover Investigation of Illegal Wildlife Trafficking - Paperback

by Todd a. Vandivert (Author)

Author Biography

Todd Vandivert grew up in the Washington D.C. suburbs of northern Virginia, until his love of the outdoors led him to the northwest. He attended Washington State University, and in 1978 he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Management, hoping to start a career working in the outdoors. While in college he met Judy whom he married just after graduation. A few years later, Todd and Judy had their daughter- Beth. Todd began his career with the Washington Department of Game in 1979, and has been stationed in three of the six regions of the state. During his career he started the agency's FTO (Field Training Officer) program and has trained around 50 new officers. Todd was the first game warden in the world to design and build a radio-controlled (robotic) deer decoy, now being used in almost every state in the country. He was a Defense Tactics Instructor, as well as a Critical Incident Peer Support Counselor. He has taught classes on ballistic forensics, recognizing false identification, clandestine methamphetamine labs, and wildlife investigations. Todd has also served as a union shop steward and as the editor of the Washington Game Warden Association magazine. He is one of only two officers who have received the WDFW Statewide Officer of the Year award twice. His other awards include; the NWTF Officer of the Year award, the WDFW Case of the Year award, WDFW Detective of the Year award, the Shikar-Safari Club Officer of the Year award, the American Police Hall of Fame award, the Legion of Honor Award, the US Forest Service Award of Merit- Outstanding case, and the NAWEOA (North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association)- Outstanding officer award. Todd, his wife Judy, and their yellow lab, now live in eastern Washington, where they enjoy hunting, fishing and camping in their spare time. More than anything, they enjoy actually having spare time together.