Maine Warden Service recently announced Game Warden of the Year and Supervisor of the Year at the recent annual awards ceremony
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Judy Camuso was the featured speaker for the annual awards ceremony, and she discussed the notable accomplishments of the Warden Service and the Department from the past year, as well as the Warden service response and actions during the Lewiston shooting.
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?In the Conservation world, we often talk about Conservation heroes. People who inspire others, who push the boundaries, take risks, and move the field in a positive direction. You are those heroes,? stated the commissioner in her opening remarks.
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The awards ceremony gives special recognition to game wardens for exceptional performance during 2023. Awards are given for the Maine Game Warden of the Year, Game Warden Supervisor of the Year, the Legendary Game Warden of the Year, as well as awards for conduct above the normal line of duty, outstanding work that merits special attention, and recognizes individuals and groups who assisted the Maine Warden Service.
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Achievements that were recognized included incidents where lives were saved, and other awards highlighted the conservation of Maine?s fish and wildlife resources in ways deserving of special recognition. The following were recipients of this year?s annual awards.
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Game Warden Investigator Josh Smith of Division A in Gray, a game warden for nearly 20 years, was honored as the Maine Game Warden of the year.
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Among the many accomplishments that were noted, Josh was recognized for his work on challenging cases that included missing persons, prohibited persons possessing firearms, illegal fish stocking, illegal possession of exotic species, commercial bait dealers, and fatal crashes.
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Of note was one investigation where 15 deer were killed illegally, and his work to bring closure to a family of someone missing for over ten months.
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Along with his accomplishments as a law enforcement officer, Smith was lauded for his work and place in the community, where has worked hard to develop a rapport with landowners, outdoorsmen, and other agencies.?
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He also was praised for the ways he has found to give back to the community, including donating flies that he meticulously tied for raffles and benefits, helping with veterans? hunts, or bringing neighbors kids out on turkey hunts.?
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In addition to Josh?s own investigations, it was noted he makes himself available to help area wardens working illegal activity, investigating incidents, reviewing search warrants, or covering calls to allow other wardens to continue their work.?
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Smith was also praised for his work on the night of October 25th, the Lewiston shooting. While not actively on call, Smith was one of the first officers to arrive at the second shooting scene. Josh went into the scene, and started helping any way he could, including transporting a critically injured person to the hospital in his truck after he learned there were no more ambulances available.
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Sergeant Josh Beal, of Division C in Bangor, was awarded the Supervisor of the Year Award. Josh has been a sergeant in the Downeast region of Maine since 2021, where he has quickly earned the respect of his peers, his staff, and the community.
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Josh was recognized for his ability to make sure his staff gets the support, guidance, and tools they need to be successful. He works with his staff in a variety of roles, joining them in the field and assisting with investigations. He often changes his days off to make sure he is available with investigations, trainings, PR events, or to help others during a difficult time.
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It was noted that his work ethic and tenacity are contagious, and his calm demeanor, and strong communication skills allow him to be an extremely valuable member of his section, division, and to the MWS supervisory staff.? He was also praised for his work with his section during the past fall where there were several vacancies in his section, yet his group still maintained an excellent attitude while processing multiple cases simultaneously. ?
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Beal was also praised for thinking outside the box, and bringong new techniques and skills to existing issues and cases. He also is extremely active in teaching skills to others, as he is a supervisor for the WTO program, is part of the Warden Service training committee, and is an OUI/SFST instructor.
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 Retired Game Warden Pilot Roger Wolverton with his family and Deputy Commissioner Tim Peabody and Colonel Dan Scott at the recent annual awards banquet
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Retired Game Warden Pilot Roger Wolverton began his career in 1974 in the St. Aurelie district on Maine?s northern border with Quebec. From there he went to Millinocket, and then to Jefferson and the central Maine? area where he later became a Game Warden Sergeant then Chief Pilot for the Maine Warden Service.
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Wolverton was praised for his work with other wardens, his tireless work ethic, and his innovation. Several of his high profile rescues and cases were highlighted at the banquet, including the rescue of two missing ice fishermen in Millinocket on a blizzardy night with temperatures at 20 below zero. Wolverton?s perseverance and instincts enabled him to rescue the frozen pair that were near death. The two spent ten days in the hospital recovering from their experience.
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Wolverton was also lauded for his work as a pilot, including a night when he located a lost individual in the dark of the night flying his plane in winds that gusted over 50 miles an hour while wearing night vision googles. He was able to circle the area, and located a small fire the individual had started, and then was able to direct wardens to the area.
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It was also noted that Wolverton was involved in the training and hiring of Game Warden candidates, worked in the acquisition of the new green uniforms for Wardens, helped establish the Warden Investigators positions, worked with Marine Patrol on the use of sonar in locating drowning victims, and worked in a covert capacity in the fall when needed.
Visit mefishwildlife.com to read about the additional awards that were presented at the annual ceremony!
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