RICHMOND — Jessica Whirley, a Cumberland-based Virginia Conservation Police Officer (CPO), recently received the 2015 North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association Award (NAWEOA) at the association’s conference in Charleston, S.C.

She is only the third Virginia officer to receive this honor, according to a press release.

Earlier this year Whirley was named the Virginia Conservation Police Officer of the Year, which is the highest recognition given to a Virginia Conservation Police Officer.

Whirley said winning the award was overwhelming to her.

“I was able to meet wildlife officers from all over the country,” she said, adding that being acknowledged for work “that I have done by that many people was something I just can’t put into words. I am very appreciative and honored I can represent … Virginia in this magnitude and be associated with such a great group of wildlife officers.”

Whiskey said she was the first woman to receive the state and national awards. “I am very proud of that!” said Whirley.

“I am delighted that Officer Whirley’s good work on behalf of the Commonwealth has now been recognized at the national level,” said Col. Ron Henry, chief of the Virginia Conservation Police. “She is most deserving of this recognition, and I could not be prouder of her.”

Whirley joined the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Law Enforcement Division in 2007 and was assigned to Cumberland.

Jessica is a DCJS Certified Criminal Justice Instructor and serves on the division’s Defensive Tactics Cadre.  Officer Whirley is also one of the division’s field training officers