A deputy in green: Walton's new environmental deputy sits down with The Sun

Deputy Donna Shank “will learn as she goes” after taking the helm at Walton County’s new Environmental Unit.

Shank has been in Northwest Florida since 1980 and started her career in Okaloosa County in 1997 as a road deputy.

“I learned about the position in August,” Shank said. “The environmental area was never a priority until the current administration came in.”

On Nov. 20, she was sworn into the position that will investigate matters such as widespread illegal dumping, and pollution of lakes, rivers and streams.

Shank has held various positions in law enforcement before taking on the new assignment.

“I have been a school resource officer, public information officer, a road deputy and a code enforcement officer over the years,” Shank said.

Since she is the only environmental deputy in Walton County she is going to have her hands full.

“It’s a one person show right now,” she said.

Shank’s beat is the whole county and she said that she has already had people calling her up and letting her know about things she should be aware of.

“I haven’t had time yet to go out there and delve into everything,” Shank said. “I need to get up in the helicopter. That is where you get to see a lot of what is going on.”

Shank said that when you “look from above it’s easier to spot illegal dumping or pollution.”

“I have one possible criminal case right now,” she said. “Then I have a couple of other complaints that I’m looking into.”

Shank does not have a background in environmental issues, but she is ready for the challenges she faces.

“This is something that I am going to learn as I go,” Shank said. “I have been pulling stuff from the Department of Environmental Protection to look over.”

Shank is also looking for classes she can attend.

The DEP offers free classes online that are geared for local, federal and state law enforcement officers.

“You have to be really careful when working these cases,” Shank said. “You really have to take your time and read things through. They can be very, very technical.”

Shank added that the DEP will be stationing an officer to work directly with her.

While this is Walton County’s first dive into the water, Okaloosa County has had an environmental unit since the late ’90s.

Shank will be riding along with Okaloosa County’s unit to see how they do things.

“I don’t want to copy them,” she said. “I just want to get a framework of how they run things.”

Shank’s biggest challenge will be “prioritizing and managing her case load,” she says.

“Environmental crimes are different from normal crimes,” she said. “They take a lot longer to work. They are not something where you go and arrest someone right there on the spot.”

“There is a lot more investigating and research involved. You have to make sure you go through the proper channels.”

Shank said she has “high hopes for the unit.”

“I thought Walton County needed an environmental deputy for a long time,” she said. “This is a great opportunity for the county and for me in my career.”