State officials announced today that Jason Redulla, a 27-year law enforcement professional, has been appointed as the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement chief, effective immediately. He replaces Robert Farrell, who resigned last year.

Redulla currently serves as DOCARE’s Deputy Enforcement Chief and Assistant Division Administrator, and has been with DOCARE for 15 years.

“Jason has stepped in and stepped up on multiple occasions to fill leadership voids when previous chiefs have retired or resigned,” said DLNR chair Suzanne Case in a news release. “He knows conservation and resource enforcement laws and rules inside out and is well-respected inside DOCARE and across the broader law enforcement community for his professionalism and dedication as a law enforcement officer.”

As chief, Redulla will lead a team of more than 100 DOCARE officers in charge of enforcing natural and cultural resource laws, and educating people about proper behavior in relation to Hawaii’s natural and cultural resources.

“I’m honored to move into the chief’s role,” said Redulla in a statement. “DOCARE has accomplished a lot in the last few years with the establishment of our first law academy dedicated to training new conservation officers and institution of the highest level of professional standards possible.”

Prior to joining DOCARE as an officer in 2004, and advancing to enforcement chief, Redulla was a deputy sheriff with the State Department of Public Safety, and assigned to the Governor’s protection detail. He has also served as a U.S. Air Force Law Enforcement Specialist, Installation Patrolman and Desk Sergeant in Virginia, California and the Republic of Korea. He also worked as a security officer at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.