Wardens honored at ceremonies

The Maine Warden Service has 10 new wardens on staff, following the graduation ceremony held at the Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro on April 20.
The newest wardens have already received their field assignments. They include: Alan Curtis, Kennebunk; Tony Gray, South Paris; Ryan Fitzpatrick, Rumford; James Babiarz, Jackman; Tom McKenney, Ripogenus Dam; Dan Christianson, Topsfield; Charles Brown, Oakfield; Josh Smith, Monticello; Preston Pomerleau, Ashland; and Adrian Marquis, Madawaska.
    “The Maine Warden Service has a history that dates back over 125 years. I am pleased to say that with the addition of these new game wardens, the future of the Maine Warden Service is in good hands,” said Roland D. Martin, commissioner, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
The graduation marks the completion of a 32-week training period that included a 20-week Basic Law Enforcement Training Program, followed by an advance warden service academy that lasted 12 weeks.
“I congratulate you on your successful completion of the prescribed course of training, and I envy you as you embark on your new careers,” said Colonel Thomas Santaguida, chief of the Maine Warden Service and a game warden of 20 years.
The advanced training they received is designed to provide newly-hired game wardens with the basic skills necessary to perform their duties as a district game warden. It encompasses a number of topics, including but not limited to: search and rescue, warden patrol techniques, wildlife and fisheries management, equipment maintenance, public relations, public speaking, fish and wildlife law, investigation techniques and a practical exercise. The 20-week law enforcement course included such course work as emergency vehicle operations, constitutional law, search and seizure, first aid, water safety, basic firearms, arrest procedure and physical conditioning, said Mark Latti, spokesperson for the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
According to Latti, On April 22, the new wardens continued their training with an eight-week field training officer program. Each of the new wardens will work under the direct guidance of an experienced game warden and will be evaluated by field supervisors. During this training, new game wardens are evaluated while performing their duties and critiqued daily as to their strengths and areas in need of improvement. Upon successful completion of the Field Training Officer Program, these newest wardens will begin their patrols under the supervision of a sectional sergeant.
“This 32-week training for game wardens is a requirement of the Maine Warden Service,” said Latti.
On April 27, several more game wardens were honored at the Maine Warden Service 2007 Awards Ceremony, held in Winslow.
“The Maine Game Warden of the Year is the most prestigious award in the Maine Warden Service. Other awards presented included: the Meritorious Service Award, Legendary Game Warden (recipient is a retired warden), Exemplary Service Award and Distinguished Supervisor Award,” said Latti.
The 2006 Warden of the Year honor went to Neal Wykes, a veteran game warden of 26 years, of Naples.
Capt. Joel Wilkinson, of Windsor, received Supervisor of the Year. Wilkinson was unable to attend the ceremony because he was involved in the search for a missing child in Fort Fairfield.
The Meritorious Service Award was presented to Daniel Dufault, of Turner, a pilot with the Warden Service recognized for his role in rescuing two small children.
Rick Clowry, of Harmony, was recognized for his meritorious service. Clowry was credited with rescuing three people from an overturned canoe in Kingsbury Pond.
Also receiving Meritorious Service Awards were Sgt. Dan Menard, of Houlton, and Game Warden Bill Chandler, of Shirley, for their dramatic rescue of a lady trapped in a submerged vehicle in Moosehead Lake, according to Latti.
Warden Chris Cloutier, of Bridgton, received the Meritorious Service Award, according to Latti, for his courage and determination in apprehending an armed and dangerous bank robbery suspect on the grounds of an elementary school in Lovell.
“The following game wardens received Exemplary Service Awards for rendering outstanding service that deserves special attention: Game Warden Alan Dudley, of Easton, for his expertise in search and rescue, fish and game enforcement and his record of achievement over the past 10 years; Game Warden Bill Livezey, of Sherman Mills, in recognition of his outstanding undercover work in Operation Deer Snare in Washington County in the fall of 2005; and Game Warden Bruce Loring, of Enfield, for freeing an entangled warden service diver who was running out of air under the ice on Cold Stream Pond. The pair were retrieving a snowmobile that went through the ice,” said Latti.
Also honored at the ceremony were: Game Warden Dan Scott, of Hamden, and his canine Roxy, recipients of the Search and Rescue Canine Case of the Year Award for their part in finding and rescuing a diabetic man who was found nearly unconscious; and Warden Mark Merrifield, of Searsmont, and his canine Aspen who received the K9 Conservation Law Enforcement Case of the Year Award for their part in a poaching case involving a crossbow with night vision equipment, said Latti.
“The case netted the suspect three days in jail and a $2,000 fine,” Latti added.
A retired Aroostook County game warden was also honored for his dedication to the Warden Service.
“Retired Game Warden Gary Dumond, of Aroostook County, received the 2006 legendary Game Warden Award,” said Latti.