Northern division of Maine Warden’s Service meet in Monticello

By Karen Donato
Staff Writer
    MONTICELLO — Lt. Doug Tibbetts of the State of Maine Warden Service met with 28 wardens, including five sergeants from the northern division of Maine on Sept. 30. The Monticello Fish and Game Club hosted the group at their Russell Rock lodge on the Mednuxnekeag River. The setting was very appropriate for this group, since the warden service promotes the importance of having a good working relationship with clubs that respect and abide by the mission statement of the State of Maine Warden Service.
Houlton Pioneer Times photograph /Karen Donato
NORTHERN DIVISION OF MAINE WARDENS MEET — 29 Maine State Wardens met at the Monticello Fish and Game Club in Monticello Sept. 30 to review new laws, policies and other issues. The wardens attending were from Ft.Kent in the north, to Downeast Machias. The wardens are, from left, in front: Adrian Marquis, Ft.Kent; Alan Dudley, Presque Isle; Irene Yaws, Wesley; Joe Gardner, Pembroke; Mike Boyer, Lincoln; Sgt. Brian Gray, Mapleton; Joe McBrine, E. Machias; and Dave Allen, T-8-R11. Row two: Sgt.Ron Dunham, Lincoln; Chad Abbott, Eagle Lake; Brad Richard, Princeton; Ed Christie, New Sweden; Jim Davis, E. Millinocket; Lt. Doug Tibbetts, Bangor and Bayley Grant, Centerville Township. Row three: Preston Pomerleau, Ashland; Ryan Fitzpatrick, Stockholm; Tom McKenney, Ripogenus; Charles Brown, Dyer Brook; Alan Curtis, Topsfield; Sgt. Tom Ward, Masardis and Durward Humphrey, Benedicta. Row four: Dave Milligan, Ashland; Jeffrey Spencer, Estcort; Jim Martin, Crawford; Sgt. Daniel Menard, Easton; Robert Johansen, Chamberlain Lake; Andrew Glidden, Millinocket and Sgt. Dave Craven, Bucks Harbor.
    The warden service mission statement reads as follows: “The Maine Warden Service, as a steward of Maine’s inland fish and wildlife resources, will work as the law enforcement bureau within the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in partnership with the public to conserve and protect Maine’s unique fish and wildlife resources and enhance public safety through conservation law enforcement, education, and search and rescue missions. These efforts promote a safe, equitable and sustainable diversity of outdoor recreational opportunities for present and future generations.”
    The northern division of the Maine Warden’s Service encompasses all of Aroostook County, Downeast and the Millinocket area. The wardens attending were informed of new laws, policy updates and procedures, training information and other administrative issues.
    Tibbetts, from Bangor, said that the department has seen a smaller number of prospective wardens in recent years, but very highly qualified applicants. There are six candidates completing training at this time and will be assigned to a variety of posts, one of those being in the Houlton area. There are 92 district wardens and supervisory positions in the state. He added that there have been many changes to the job description and the wardens have had to adapt. A major challenge has been compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act. This law specifies the adherence to the 40-hour work week with at least one day off. This becomes a huge challenge during the months of October and November, the traditional deer-hunting season. Game wardens had been like doctors, on call, sometimes putting in 100 hours a week.
    Tibbetts has been with the warden service for 38 years and was assigned to the greater Houlton area in the early 1970s. He always looks forward to the spring and fall meetings in Aroostook County.