Wildlife officers

Unsung heroes

I've always pictured wildlife officers pretty much as uniformed citation writers who collect fines for the Arkansas Department of Game and Fish.

Shows just how little I know.

Lifelong friend Ken Reeves, a Game and Fish Commissioner for almost three years, filled me in the other day on just how involved the wildlife officers we once called game wardens often become in matters well beyond arresting outdoor violators.

And sometimes, as in the case of Sgt. Darrell "Monty" Carmikle and Wildlife Officer 1st Class Joel Campora, the job means sacrificing their lives in the line of duty. Carmikle died in a helicopter crash on Nov. 16, 2008, while surveilling for night hunters. Campora drowned trying to rescue victims of an overnight flash flood of the Fourche LaFave River near Y City on May 31, 2013.

Truth is, these officers undergo as much or more rigorous training in law enforcement as traditional city, county and state officers. Arkansas has two officers with full police powers and authority assigned to each of its 75 counties.

"Their primary duty is to enforce wildlife, fishing and boating regulations," Randy Zellers, a spokesman for Game and Fish told me. "But the many 'other duties as assigned' often require immediate attention and a wildlife officer must be willing to respond to that as well."

As for the fines they assess, all proceeds are given to Departments of Rural Services in the counties in which the crime occurs rather than winding up in Game and Fish coffers, and awarded specifically to support educational fish, wildlife and conservation programs within that county.

Zellers said that in many counties, wildlife officers work hand-in-hand with other local law enforcement to apprehend suspects in major crimes. "In the last year wildlife officers have been involved in manhunts for escaped fugitives, arrests for bank robberies, marijuana eradication, identification and the elimination of clandestine meth labs, and other law enforcement duties well beyond the scope of game and fish regulations."

They've also proven instrumental in cases involving driving and boating under the influence, a wide range of domestic violence cases, and even hostage situations.

It almost goes without saying if a lawman (or woman) with the expertise to search a vast expanse of woodland or along a stream or lake is needed, the obvious choice is the wildlife officer who regularly patrols that area. Game and Fish even has its own dive team.

Major Jason Parker, who for many years oversaw the Commission's training center in Mayflower, perhaps better than anyone understands what our state's 150 wildlife officers often must deal with in the line of duty. "Local wildlife officers are often called upon to assist in rural search and rescue or fugitive hunts based on their special knowledge of rural off-road terrain and specialized equipment they are trained to operate, such as boats, ATVs and four-wheel-drive vehicles," he said.

Since they hold full police authority, they are able to assist the local sheriff departments and the state police. "Wildlife officers are often the first responding law enforcement figure in rural Arkansas to emergency situations," said Parker. "They are trained to manage emergency or violent situations until [they] can be turned over to the local authorities."

Wildlife officers undergo 16 weeks of academy training "where they learn the basics of criminal law, wildlife law, firearms, survival swimming, search and rescue skills, self-defense, emergency driving and active-shooter response. They continue to train for an additional eight weeks with a field training officer to build their knowledge for most any encounter they may have," said Parker.

Many no doubt will recall the case in West Memphis a few years back when fugitives who'd killed two city police officers and wounded two Crittenden County sheriff's deputies were attempting to flee in their van from a shopping center parking lot.

That's when Wildlife Officer Michael K. Neal, who was assisting police at the scene, decided to stop the pair by using his agency truck to immobilize their vehicle. But that wasn't before they spotted him racing toward them and fired more than a dozen rounds through Neal's windshield, dash and hood.

The uninjured wildlife officer, who later would be rightfully decorated for his heroism, returned fire, killing one assailant and wounding the other who later died in the hospital.

I suppose today's message is intended to hopefully erase any ignorance that might linger about the role and dedication of the wildlife officers who serve our Game and Fish Commission. And to recognize, despite being the relatively small and unsung band of brothers they are, just how much they contribute to protecting and preserving far more than just Arkansas' fish and wildlife.

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Mike Masterson's column appears regularly in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Email him at [email protected].

Editorial on 05/29/2016

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