EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE: Boatload of recognition

Southport, NC (WWAY) — Being an officer of the law is extraordinary in itself. It’s a life where much of what you do everyday goes unnoticed by the general public.  The job of law enforcement is to serve and protect simply out of the love for a community. However, officer Jon Weaver just got a boat-load of recognition.He is our extraordinary person of the week.

“It humbled me,” Officer Jon Weaver said of the award. Officer Weaver has worked the streets. “I started working for the Burlington Police Department in North Carolina(in 1997)”.

Now he works the water. “The Marine Patrol, it’s kind of a mixed bag,” Weaver said. “We do enforcement but not only enforcing the rules but also educating the public and fishermen on what the regulations are, any changes they have coming up.”

Officer Weaver patrols the waters of Brunswick County, specifically the Oak Island and Holden Beach areas

“We’ve been in positions where we’re enforcing the regulations to help vessels in distress or boaters that have become stranded,” Weaver said. “We’ve had opportunities like that to help people and that’s why a lot of people get into this line of work in the first place.”

Speaking of first place, Officer Weaver was just awarded Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

Officer Weaver receiving the Officer of the Year award

He beat out nominations from up and down the east coast. One of the more notable recognitions during the ceremony was his *catch* in 2014 where he busted a bandit boat selling fish without proper licences. Officials say that case resulted in “the seizure of 1,022 pounds of snapper and grouper species, sold under court order for $3,428. Through further investigation, Weaver discovered five other unlawful sales of snapper and grouper species by the same fisherman totaling 4,906 pounds. The fisherman was charged and convicted of selling fish without a commercial fishing license. Additionally, the fisherman and the dealer were assessed and paid civil penalties, totaling $3,500”.

“It’s humbling and makes you feel proud for the work you do, the work you do everyday,” Weaver said of the award.

Everyday officer Weaver helps keep our coast safe. “Smooth sailing,”so to speak, and that is….Extraordinary!

Officer Weaver and his wife, Jennifer

Officer Weaver’s nomination was submitted by Captain Jason Walker of the Marine Patrol. Captain Walker said that officer weaver, quote “goes above and beyond expectation with any assignment or investigation. he not only excels in marine fisheries enforcement but is an excellent instructor.”