Tyler Game Warden Named Boating Officer of the Year

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AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Game Warden Chris Green of Tyler was recognized May 28 as the Southern States Boating Law Administrators’ Association Officer of the Year. The SSBLA is comprised of 17 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

The prestigious award is one of three given by regional boating law administrators’ associations, and Green goes on to compete for the National Boating Officer of the Year, which will be announced at the National Association of Boating Law Administrators annual conference in Corpus Christi Sept. 26-30.

Green, a Duncanville native, began his Texas Parks and Wildlife Department career as a Game Warden cadet in 1993, and is currently stationed in Smith County. His patrol area includes Lakes Tyler and Palestine and the Neches and Sabine Rivers.

Green was recognized by the SSBLA specifically for a search and rescue operation on Lake Palestine, in which he successfully located and brought to shore two fishermen whose boat capsized during a severe storm. His nomination also cited Green’s investigation into a June 2008 boating fatality on Lake Cherokee which led to the indictment of a vessel operator for Criminally Negligent Homicide.

Each summer Green also organizes boat rides on Lake Tyler for adults with mental and physical disabilities and frequently serves as a TPWD Law Enforcement Division spokesman for his area regarding boating safety.

"Chris represents the agency very well in his water safety enforcement: working to keep the boating public safe through patrols, getting the message to boaters using various media outlets, and in accident reconstruction & presentation to grand juries, when felony charges are warranted," said Texas Game Warden Capt. Larry Hand, supervisor of the Tyler district. "He is a pleasure to work with and I couldn’t be happier that he has been recognized in this way."

Green received the award from Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Chairman Peter Holt and TPWD Executive Director Carter Smith at the TPW Commission’s May 28 public hearing in Austin.