WINSLOW, Maine — The Maine Warden Service celebrated its 136th anniversary recently with an annual awards banquet at the Winslow VFW, and a local game warden was among those given special recognition.
Warden Andrew Smart of Ashland was among 18 wardens and one Maine state trooper who were given Exemplary Service Awards, which are presented when, in the opinion of the Awards Board, a warden has rendered relevant outstanding service which deserves special recognition.
According to Warden Service officials, Smart was honored for his role in saving the life of a suicidal young man in Ashland.
A 2005 graduate of Skowhegan Area High School, Smart received his BS in conservation law enforcement from Unity College in 2009 and graduated from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy’s basic law enforcement training, he indicated in the MWS 2009 Annual Report. He became a full-time game warden in 2009.
The MWS described the work of Maine’s game wardens as diverse and challenging, taking place during the best and worst of weather conditions. Some of the achievements that were recognized included lifesaving events in which wardens clearly saved human lives, including preventing a heroin overdose, saving a lost person from hypothermia and placing a convicted murderer back in prison.
A canine team search and rescue case was honored for tracking a missing man and saving his life, while another canine team brought an intentional fish and wildlife violator to justice by detecting crucial evidence.
“The Maine Warden Service is proud to be able to honor game wardens who made a distinct difference in people’s lives and for conserving Maine’s natural resources in 2015,” said officials.
Tom McKenney of Norridgewock was named the 2015 Maine Game Warden of the Year. Also highlighted were Jeremy Judd and K9 Tundra of Mechanic Falls, K9 Search and Rescue of the Year Award; Kris MacCabe of Wilton and K9 Morgan, K9 Conservation Case of the Year Award; Auburn Fire Chief Frank Roma, Lt. Chris Morretto and Erik Poland, Maine Warden Association Merit Awards; Richard “Dick” Longley of Anson, who served from 1945-1968, Legendary Game Warden of the Year; Lt. Dan Scott of Hampden, representing Bangor’s Division C, Supervisor of the Year; and finally, David Delorme, 2015 Colonel’s Award.
Exemplary Service Awards also went to Maine State Trooper Jason Wing; and Wardens Aaron Cross of Morrill, Alan Gillis, Orrington; Bruce Loring, Enfield; Ethan Buuck, Mt. Vernon; Kris MacCabe, Wilton; Bob Johansen, Millinocket; Tony Gray, Oxford; Dave Chabot, Greene; Tim Coombs, Stoneham; Dave Ross, China; Eric Rudolph, Ellsworth; Dave Georgia, Greenfield Twp.; Phil Richter, Lamoine; Kyle Hladik, Millinocket; Troy Dauphinee, Shirley; Chad Robertson, Madison; and Charles Brown, Dyer Brook.
“When you see shows like ‘North Woods Law’ on TV, that’s real life for many of our conservation law enforcement graduates,” said Unity College President Dr. Melik Peter Khoury. “Our people work to protect the environment in the worst weather, remotest countryside, and in some of the most adverse situations.”
Khoury added, “It takes that kind of fortitude and dedication to be a graduate of the Unity College conservation law enforcement program, and we see that in these esteemed wardens.”
