Wardens graduate from Academy

VASSALBORO, Maine — On Friday, the Maine Warden Service graduated seven new game wardens at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.
The new wardens recently completed an extensive 12-week advanced academy specifically for Maine’s game wardens. The Advanced Warden Academy followed the 18-week Basic Law Enforcement Training Program (BLETP) required of all full-time Maine police officers. The past 12 weeks prepared the new wardens by utilizing classroom and scenario based training components, according to John MacDonald of the Maine Warden Service.
“Critical aspects of game warden work to include search and rescue, recreational vehicle crash investigation, water survival, physical fitness, public relations, and bureau policies and procedures are among the many topics of training covered,” MacDonald said.
Speaking before Friday’s class were Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Chandler Woodcock, Warden Service Colonel Joel Wilkinson, Chaplain Kate Braestrup, Warden Service Captain Shon Theriault, class speaker Game Warden Kyle Hladik, and guest speaker retired Game Warden Lieutenant Doug Tibbetts.