51 New Game Wardens Will Enforce Texas Conservation Laws

Tom Harvey, 512-389-4453, tom.harvey@tpwd.texas.gov

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Cadet Class To Graduate 9 a.m. June 9 at Capitol In Austin

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AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Game Warden Academy’s largest class ever will graduate at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning in the House of Representatives chamber at the capitol, after which the 51 cadets will disperse to their first duty stations across the state.

Game wardens perform water rescue operations, respond to natural disasters, and conduct public outreach programs, in addition to enforcing traditional hunting, fishing, and water safety regulations.

"Basically, game wardens are the primary law enforcement off the pavement in Texas," said Major Danny Shaw, director of training at the academy.

This 54th Game Warden graduating class was the first to be trained at the academy’s new site in Hamilton County, in a facility donated by the nonprofit Police Activities League. Previously, cadets trained at a converted warehouse in Austin and various borrowed facilities around the state, adding extra costs and travel time to the training schedule.

Construction began in April on a $20 million training complex at the new Hamilton site. Fundraising is needed to complete the ambitious projects, and Texans are encouraged to support future Texas game wardens. More information is on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Web site.

Current graduates received 1,400 hours of training over seven months in areas such as peace officer training, firearm use, public speaking, police driving, all terrain vehicles, and various Texas Parks and Wildlife statutes and other state codes.

The new game wardens will report for duty in different counties across Texas within the next week.

June 2009 Texas Game Warden Cadet Assignments by County

Name County
John W Apgar, Jr. Culberson
Bradley M Durst Val Verde
Michael L Dushay Pecos
Chris L Sanchez Ward-Winkler-Loving
Andrew S Alexander Coryell
David R Benoit Denton
Jason B Jones Montague
Joni L Kuykendall Somervell
Glenn A Raborn Denton
Matthew D Waggoner Palo Pinto
Dustin M Balfanz Henderson
Christopher R Fried Jasper
Logan B Griffin Leon
Morgan R Inman Jasper
David E Johnson Polk
James N Schmidt Navarro
Samuel H Shanafelt Trinity
Brian D Srba Newton
Randall L Stovall Nacogdoches
Jaime L Pendlebury Galveston
Christopher L Swift Jefferson
Royce G Ilse Brooks
Benjamin E Baker Starr
Cody R Buckaloo Maverick
William E Hellums Zapata
Carlos H Maldonado III Jim Hogg
Samuel J Padgett Zapata
Drew D Spencer Starr
Cullen C Stakes Duval
Daniel S Kessel Dickens/Kent
Joshua R McCrary Baylor
Ryan D Peacock Haskell
Vance L Flowers Mills
Lee E Morrison Kimble
Lerrin A Williams Burnet
Robert E Apple, Jr Delta
David W Bosecker Dallas
Clint M Brown Dallas
Todd G Long Collin
Darrin C Peeples Harrison
David F Pellizzari Upshur
Daniel G Roraback Red River
Michael P Serbanic Morris
Jonathan H Taylor Camp
Nathan K Wilson Rains
Joel A Campos Williamson
Braxton J Harris Travis
Theron S Oatman Travis
Elizabeth A Balusek Cameron
Derek L Reeder Aransas
Luis A Sosa Willacy

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