A
NEW
WARDEN’S
PERSPECTIVE
Enforcement. I spent the next
four years studying law, species
of fish and understanding
wildlife.
After a long and tedious
hiring process, I finally got the
call I was waiting for. A month
after college graduation, I
tied on my new Danner boots
and started Advanced Warden
School in June of 2010. All
Maine Game Wardens must
attend the 12-week Advanced
Warden School which teaches
new hires the ins and outs
of being an effective game
warden. The weeks went on
and the twelve newest game
wardens pushed through the
endless nights learning patrol
techniques ranging from big
game hunting enforcement to
smelt enforcement. No matter
if it was 3:00 A.M.; each game
warden had to demonstrate
their ability to be one of
Maine’s finest. Week twelve
rolled around and graduation
was just around the corner.
We all knew that in a few short days we’d be enforcing
laws, protecting Maine’s fish and wildlife and be held
accountable for representing the patch on our arm.
For me, I knew that day would come but not for
another eighteen weeks. So, as my warden compadres
ventured off in their fully outfitted warden truck, I
ventured off to the Basic Law Enforcement Training
Program at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in
mid-August. Two weeks prior
I was being taught how to
apprehend a night hunter, now
I was being instructed on how
to fold a hospital corner. I had
to keep in mind that all fulltime law enforcement officers
in the State of Maine must
complete the training program
at the academy. During my
weeks at the academy, I learned
everything from high speed
pursuit driving, field sobriety
tests, to deadly force issues.
I also found the best places
for dust to hide in my room
and the finest way to shine
my boots. The weeks rolled
on and the class got tougher,
both mentally and physically.
By week eighteen, we were the
best- trained law enforcement