Wildlife Conservation Officers Recognized by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service
HARRISBURG, PA – -(AmmoLand.com)- Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officers (WCOs) John McKellop III and Mark Allegro, both of Crawford County, recently were recognized by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for their continuing support and assistance to the law enforcement program of the USFWS.
USFWS Zone Law Enforcement Officer David Nicely presented WCOs McKellop and Allegro with plaques.
In 1983, McKellop began his career with the Pennsylvania Game Commission as a Deputy Game Protector in Wattsburg, Erie County. He was selected to attend the 19th Class at the Ross Leffler School of Conservation in Brockway, in 1985. Upon graduation, on Feb. 8, 1986, he was assigned to a northern Mercer County district. In addition to agency training, McKellop earned a bachelor’s degree from Gannon University in Environmental Earth Science.
In 1989, McKellop transferred to an eastern Crawford County district, where he continues to serve today. WCO McKellop supervises a crew of seven Deputy WCOs and 27 Hunter-Trapper Education Instructors who assist him in meeting the many demands of his district.
WCO McKellop is a Game Commission Firearms Instructor and annually trains many of the agency’s WCOs, and assists with training WCO Cadets at the agency’s Ross Leffler School of Conservation in Harrisburg. McKellop also has been very active as a member of the agency’s turkey trapping team; recently completing trapping for a four-year gobbler survival study.
In addition to his varied duties as a WCO, McKellop has a passion for bird hunting and raises and trains English Setters. A native of Erie County, McKellop and his wife, Trish, reside in the Guys Mills area, along with their daughter.
A veteran of the United States Army, Mark Allegro served as a special agent with the Central Investigation Detachment and attained the rank of sergeant. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminology and psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Allegro began his career with the Game Commission when he was selected to attend the 21st Class at the Ross Leffler School of Conservation in 1991. Upon graduation on March 29, 1992, he was assigned as Wildlife Conservation Officer to the central District of Crawford County where he continues to serve today.
WCO Allegro supervises a crew of six Deputy WCOs, along with 18 Hunter-Trapper Education Instructors who assist him in meeting the many demands of his district.
WCO Allegro has played a key role in the Crawford County Youth Field Day Program and was honored as Pennsylvania’s recipient of the Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association (CLECA) of the Year Award in 2007. Allegro currently serves on the core committee for Conservation Officers of Pennsylvania Association (COPA) planning the North American Wildlife Officer Association Conference to be held in Pennsylvania in 2010.
In addition to his work, Mark enjoys sports with a particular interest in golf. A native of Lawrence County, Mark resides in the Meadville area.
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For more than 100 years, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has managed the Commonwealth’s wildlife resources for all Pennsylvanians. With the help of more than 700 full-time employees and thousands of part-timers and volunteers, the agency provides a host of benefits to wildlife, state residents and visitors.