+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | TPWD News Release 20050705a | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | This page contains only plain text, no HTML formatting codes. | | It is not designed for display in a browser but for copying | | and editing in whatever software you use to lay out pages. | | To copy the text into an editing program: | | --Display this page in your browser. | | --Select all. | | --Copy. | | --Paste in a document in your editing program. | | If you have any suggestions for improving these pages, send | | an e-mail to webtech@tpwd.state.tx.us and mention Plain Text Pages. | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ [ Note: This item is more than seven years old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references. ] [ Media Contact: Kristen Everett, 512-389-8046, kristen.everett@tpwd.state.tx.us ] [KE] July 5, 2005 Game Warden Cadets Finish 6-Month Academy AUSTIN, Texas -- The 51st Game Warden Class graduated Friday and all 35 reported to their new posts across the state. This is Texas Parks and Wildlife's most diverse game warden class ever. Today's game wardens have broad roles, enforcing not only traditional hunting and fishing laws, but also have a wide range of other duties from working environmental crimes and performing flood rescues to making numerous public outreach and educational contacts. "We are pleased and proud to present a class that as best as possible, reflects the face of Texas," said Col. Pete Flores, director of law enforcement at TPWD. The 51st Game Warden graduating class consists of one Hispanic female, nine white Females, one male Asian, three male African Americans, eight male Hispanics, and 13 white males. The educational background consists of 10 degrees in Conservation, 13 degrees in Criminal Justice or related field and four degrees in Conservation Science, to name some of their fields of study. The six-month training brought the group from throughout the state to Austin where they lived and trained until graduation. Their training included 1,120 hours of instruction -- including the 618-hour basic peace officer course. Also in the peace officer training was 16 hours of Spanish as required by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education, which is the licensing agency for peace officers in the state. Flores, who is bilingual, says, "The ability to speak a second language is a great tool in a profession that requires the warden to communicate with people of different cultures as they hunt and fish in our state. Spanish is our predominant second language in Texas and an officer who understands the language and the culture is more effective and safe due to the increased ability to communicate. The knowledge of the culture allows the warden to avoid confrontation by recognizing cultural issues that, left ignored, might lead to a potential misunderstanding," he said. For more information, about becoming a cadet, visit the Web at (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/involved/jobvac/gwcadet/). Assignments by County Last Name, First Name County Aguilar, Cynthia Tom Green Alaniz, Gilbert Austin Baker, Suzanne Polk Bazaldua, Sergio Dallas Brown, Melissa San Augustine Button, Randy Sabine Campbell, Jason Newton Caraway, Lana Upshur Castaneda, Oscar Willacy Chambers, Mack Calhoun Clark, Adam Van Zandt From, Inga Denton Fuentes, Javier Harrison Fuentes, Rolando Rains Graham, Clint Denton Inkster, Jennifer Gregg King, Stormy Jim Wells Lindley, Lance Pecos Moore, Chad Karnes Murden, Russell Robertson Nguyen, Vu-Bang Jefferson Nieto, David Willacy Ogundare, Oludotun Henderson Palacios, John Starr Patterson, Teyran Johnson Peterek, Laura Dallas Poppe, Jill Dallam & Hartley Scott, John Comal Scott, Brian San Jacinto Self, Jared Reeves Simpson, Jenny Rockwall Waddell, Daniel Terrell Wilkinson, Kevin San Augustine Winkenwerder, Leanne Smith Zappe, William Tyler -30-