September 24, 2021 3:45 a.m.

Douglas County Senior Deputy District Attorney Allison Eichmann has been selected as the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division’s Prosecutor of the Year for 2020.

An Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife release said as the daughter of a veterinarian, Eichmann learned at an early age that animals can be victimized, that many don’t survive and that justice can be elusive. Although she didn’t want to be a veterinarian, Eichmann wanted to help animals in other ways.

The release said her opportunity came when Eichmann joined the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office in 2005 after graduating from Willamette University law school. Working alongside District Attorney Rick Wesenberg, Eichmann mastered evidence collection and trial nuance while prosecuting poaching and other crimes against Oregon wildlife and habitats.

The release said juries enthusiastic to prosecute wildlife crimes bolstered her confidence from early days and community engagement in the judicial process has served her well in prosecuting hundreds of poaching cases over the years.

Eichmann said the positive energy of community members is bested only by the passion of the OSP Fish and Wildlife troopers with whom she works every day.

The release said these days as Senior Deputy District Attorney, Eichmann leads some of the most difficult and arduously prosecuted crimes in her district. However, wildlife crimes remain a passion and give her great personnel satisfaction.