Kyle Overturf grew up in a small town in eastern Connecticut hunting and fishing, and learned the “game warden” lifestyle firsthand from his father, who served 25 years with Connecticut’s Environmental Police. He graduated in 1985 for the University of Connecticut with a BA in political science.

He began his law enforcement career in 1986, serving as a Conservation Enforcement Officer in the Central Marine Sector for the State Environmental Police. Progressing through his career, Kyle was promoted to Sergeant in 1991 and served as a field supervisor for twelve years. He was selected as Connecticut’s officer of the year in 1996. He was promoted to Captain in 2003 and served as Commander of the State’s Western and Marine Districts. In 2010 he was promoted to Colonel and served in that capacity until his recent retirement in June of 2018 after serving for thirty two years.

Colonel Overturf served as an instructor at the Connecticut Police Academy for ten years teaching use of force, defensive tactics, handcuffing and police pepper spray. He also taught a block of the First Line Supervisor course at the Academy, He served an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Connecticut for six years where he taught an undergraduate course in Conservation Law Enforcement. Kyle was a member of the National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs and served as President of the Northeast Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs. Since 2012, Kyle served as an executive advisor and steering committee member to the National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Leadership Academy. He was also a member of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Law Enforcement Committee since 2005, where he served as chair for three years and was recently selected as the recipient of the Award of Excellence for Marine Fisheries Law Enforcement.

Kyle has been married for thirty years to his wife Karen and has two children, Ryan who is in law school and Kathryn, who works for the University of Connecticut’s Police Department as a civilian doing their accreditation and community outreach programs. He also has a two year old Labrador Maggie and is an avid fishermen and runner.