OPERATION CODY- An undercover investigation into WA's commercial poaching

[ucwarden]

OPERATION CODY
The book

This true story, told in first-person, follows two undercover Washington game wardens as they work to bring down the Pacific Northwest’s wildlife parts black-market. The undercover game wardens, posing as husband and wife, lure commercial poachers into their trap by operating an undercover wildlife business complete with an enticing website. Follow along as the two wardens risk their lives dealing with dangerous criminals, all the while battling their own administration in an effort to keep their investigation running.

Available on www.amazon.com  or
From the author, for $15.50 (inluding a signed copy and shipping within the US), by contacting the author at:  ucwarden@gmail.com

[Fl0und3rz]

Or you could file a bunch of FOIA requests, gather the court case files, and spend the time sifting through all the paperwork to get at what you paid for as a taxpayer. I'd imagine that it would be cheaper paying for the author's time and effort, and you would get a first hand account that is not likely available in the aforementioned sources.

[wadu1]

I'll have my wife order it for me, sounds like a good read. In my years hunting I have only good things to say about our men and women in WDFW doing field work; just wish we had more. I was a good friend of Frank Lockard who once held badge #1 for WDFW before his passing. The only time I met them posing as husband and wife team was great, we knew the rules and did not violate them. We did leave our decoys un-attended for more than allowed while going after a cripple, they were OK with that.

[ucwarden]

Awesome I hope you nailed all you could,  but it sounds like you are making money on an investigation that us hunters have already funded.  I appreciate all the hard work that was put into this, but I have to buy the book to see how it went.  Hope you make a bunch of money from people but I won't be one.  Again I appreciate what you do for your job.  Thanks!!!

Elkbow 22:  Thanks for the thanks.  Now I want to ease your mind a bit, as far as my profitting from this case/book.  I retired at the end of December and immediately began working on the book.  I wrote 450 pages from scratch.  In the paid $350 to have a cover made, then came formatting, editing and copies.  I get a whopping $3.50 per issue and have sold 28.  If I sell 100 copies I will almost break even on money, and will only be out the 400-500 hours of my time.  I wrote this not for money, but to spread the word; which I couldn't do until I retired as much of what I saw in the book is in contrast to what WDFW would want me to say.
So relax, I ain't getting rich off of what the taxpayers already paid for.
Take care.  Todd

[ucwarden]

I'll have my wife order it for me, sounds like a good read. In my years hunting I have only good things to say about our men and women in WDFW doing field work; just wish we had more. I was a good friend of Frank Lockard who once held badge #1 for WDFW before his passing. The only time I met them posing as husband and wife team was great, we knew the rules and did not violate them. We did leave our decoys un-attended for more than allowed while going after a cripple, they were OK with that.

Thanks.  "We were great?"..... i was the greater of the two of us, right.  Todd

[ucwarden]

Ucwarden I am man enough to eat my words so for that I apologize.  After I hit post I was like why did I do that!!!!  That's why you shouldn't read things when in a pissy mood.  Again I thank you!

Hey, no problem at all.  I would love to be able to spread the word some other way, but this is all I could come up with.  I just can't lose too much money, state retirement is much better than some, but not fantastic.

Check this out for a free hint at what our Operation was all about.

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/eagle-heads-bear-penises-cougar-meat-part-local-wi/nWNxy/

Take it easy.   Todd

[SemperFidelis97]

Great work Todd it may just scratch the surface of what really goes on, but you made them look over their shoulder a little more that is a victory in itself.  I am sure we would be taken aback if we really could put a figure on how much of our resources are lost to commercial poachers every year.

[Bmcox86]

Can't wait to read this, I read ramblins of a low country game warden a few years back and this sounds like that.

[wadu1]

Todd or ucwarden  ordered from amazon, I just gave my wife $100 credit with them for a B-day gift.

[ucwarden]

Great work Todd it may just scratch the surface of what really goes on, but you made them look over their shoulder a little more that is a victory in itself.  I am sure we would be taken aback if we really could put a figure on how much of our resources are lost to commercial poachers every year.

Perhaps....perhaps, WDFW will run something like this again, and let it run the full duration.  There aren't a huge number of these guys out there, but they a lot of damage!

Thanks

[ucwarden]

Can't wait to read this, I read ramblins of a low country game warden a few years back and this sounds like that.

Please let me know what you think (   ucgamewarden@gmail.com  )
and please reiew it on Amazon.

Hope you find it informative

[ucwarden]

Todd or ucwarden  ordered from amazon, I just gave my wife $100 credit with them for a B-day gift.

Thank your wife for me, and hope you enjoy it.
As with the last post I did, please let me (and Amazon) know what you think when you are done

[wadu1]

Got mine today, can't put it down the first 85 pages are great. May have to call in sick and cancel my muzzy hunt this weekend to finish the book. And get this it is a real book made of paper and smells like ink and you can hold it nothing better in my book.  about the pun
Second post

[D-Rock425]

Getting a copy for my dad.

[mathewsbow4elk]

This was a great book! I bought it after reading about it on huntWA, ordered it for my kindle (a first), sat down and read the whole thing in a day and a half! As a sportsman I have to say I was pretty disgusted by the amount of commercial poaching going on in our state, but was just as disgusted by the lack of enthusiasm of WDFW management and lack of serious penalties for those involved! The only way to stop this is to take it seriously and make it hurt (bad) when these criminals are caught! Thank you Todd for taking the time to write this book and for your undercover work that got some truly bad people off the street, even if it wasn't near long enough! Hopefully there will be more stings like this, and it will be supported by management at the WDFW. My son is going to school right now with hopes of becoming a game warden someday, he will be reading it next.

[ucwarden]

This was a great book! I bought it after reading about it on huntWA, ordered it for my kindle (a first), sat down and read the whole thing in a day and a half! As a sportsman I have to say I was pretty disgusted by the amount of commercial poaching going on in our state, but was just as disgusted by the lack of enthusiasm of WDFW management and lack of serious penalties for those involved! The only way to stop this is to take it seriously and make it hurt (bad) when these criminals are caught! Thank you Todd for taking the time to write this book and for your undercover work that got some truly bad people off the street, even if it wasn't near long enough! Hopefully there will be more stings like this, and it will be supported by management at the WDFW. My son is going to school right now with hopes of becoming a game warden someday, he will be reading it next.

Thanks!!!!

Todd

[idahohuntr]

I just bought the book for my kindle and have been hooked...I read it every night in elk camp last week and it was hard to put it down and get some sleep...even knowing I had to get up at 4am.  I also think its pretty awesome ucwarden is on here...I know I will have some questions once I finish the book...I will have to pm though as I don't want to spoil anything for folks who haven't read it yet!!!   

[ucwarden]

I just bought the book for my kindle and have been hooked...I read it every night in elk camp last week and it was hard to put it down and get some sleep...even knowing I had to get up at 4am.  I also think its pretty awesome ucwarden is on here...I know I will have some questions once I finish the book...I will have to pm though as I don't want to spoil anything for folks who haven't read it yet!!!

Feel free to ask away.  Also take a look at my new website:  www.operationcody.com

[bigtex]

For those who read the book here is some personnel updates:

-As Todd wrote, Steve Crown is the new chief
-Mike Cenci, demoted himself to Captain for about two months but was then re-promoted to Deputy Chief and is now in charge of "statewide marine operations" which was previously a Captains responsibility (Cenci's old job) and in charge of Detectives
-Mike Hobbs who was promoted to Regional Captain in the book is now the Deputy Chief in charge of field operations for all regions, except marine officers

You now have 2 Deputy Chiefs when previously there was one

-Captain Dan Brinson who previously supervised Region 6 is now in charge of "Professional Standards" AKA internal affairs
-Captain Murray Schlenker previously supervised Region 5 now supervises Region 6 as well

[eldplanko]

I just finished this book last night... read it in 24 hours, I couldn't put it down. Here's a couple of thoughts and maybe a question or two:

1. Everyone who hunts big game or cares about our Natural Resources in WA should read this book. It gives an view into what challenges enforcement really faces on a day to day basis; that while known to some, would probably be eye opening to many.

2. Our state government is pretty messed up (as if anyone of us didn't know it). From eastside to westside politics; city folk that don't know jack about what goes on outside the city line besides what someone else tells them; to misguided and under-resouced policies etc, etc.

3. Without giving too much away... the lack of prosecution on a bunch of these seems most frustrating. I don't have any experience with the "other side" (I'm a pretty straight arrow kind of guy); but my guess this is a general problem in the criminal justice system; not just wildlife offenses. It make you sick with our LOEs bust their butts to make a case; but DAs don't have the resources to prosecute.

I could go on and on...

I've read your other thread and will write a letter to the Pierce County judge on "Bourny's" sentencing.

Thanks Todd for sharing your undercover work with the world. You've done more for this state than most, and should be proud.

One question: (and to preface I disagree with entire focus on shellfish by the DC). Is it possible that the strong focus on shellfish over big game was driven by some knowledge that these cases may actually have a greater chance of being prosecuted and result in stiffer penalties? It just seems like a lot of the big game violators are getting off with a slap on the wrist.

A second question: Did that cases that went Federal have a higher prosecution and penalty rate?

[Rainier10]

Just got the book on our Kindle the other day.  This is a great book so far and I wish I had the time to read it straight through.  I get about 30 minutes a night in and don't want to put it down.

This would make a great gift for the holidays.  I know I am going to be buying a few copies and handing them out as gifts.  I always have a tough time coming up with gifts but this is a no brainer for so many in my family.

[ucwarden]

I just finished this book last night... read it in 24 hours, I couldn't put it down. Here's a couple of thoughts and maybe a question or two:

1. Everyone who hunts big game or cares about our Natural Resources in WA should read this book. It gives an view into what challenges enforcement really faces on a day to day basis; that while known to some, would probably be eye opening to many.

2. Our state government is pretty messed up (as if anyone of us didn't know it). From eastside to westside politics; city folk that don't know jack about what goes on outside the city line besides what someone else tells them; to misguided and under-resouced policies etc, etc.

3. Without giving too much away... the lack of prosecution on a bunch of these seems most frustrating. I don't have any experience with the "other side" (I'm a pretty straight arrow kind of guy); but my guess this is a general problem in the criminal justice system; not just wildlife offenses. It make you sick with our LOEs bust their butts to make a case; but DAs don't have the resources to prosecute.

I could go on and on...

I've read your other thread and will write a letter to the Pierce County judge on "Bourny's" sentencing.

Thanks Todd for sharing your undercover work with the world. You've done more for this state than most, and should be proud.

One question: (and to preface I disagree with entire focus on shellfish by the DC). Is it possible that the strong focus on shellfish over big game was driven by some knowledge that these cases may actually have a greater chance of being prosecuted and result in stiffer penalties? It just seems like a lot of the big game violators are getting off with a slap on the wrist.

A second question: Did that cases that went Federal have a higher prosecution and penalty rate?

First, thanks for the favorable review (can I ask you to please write a review on Amazon?).

To your first question about shellfish cases vs. wildlife.  In my opinion the reasons WDFW focuses on shellfish over wildlife are;
1) Bias on the part of the DC & others
2) They are easier to work
3) They result in higher cash forfeitures
4) They can claim it is for "public health"
They can't really say it's due to higher penalties, as the only geoduck case I was involved in (I did a couple of undercover sales) resulted in a $500 fine and no jail.

To your question in if the federal prosecutions result in higher penalties; Absolutely!  It's not uncommon for a suspect who is charged by both the feds and the state to receive fines and no jail on the state charges, yet get years in federal prison.

Thanks again!

[ucwarden]

Just got the book on our Kindle the other day.  This is a great book so far and I wish I had the time to read it straight through.  I get about 30 minutes a night in and don't want to put it down.

This would make a great gift for the holidays.  I know I am going to be buying a few copies and handing them out as gifts.  I always have a tough time coming up with gifts but this is a no brainer for so many in my family.

Thanks!  If you want a signed hardcopy, go to my new website:
www.operationcody.com

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I was looking at the website, what happened to Paul Sanders?  Did he ever get in trouble?  And the Russians?  Or were they dropped due to the statue of limitations

[ucwarden]

I was looking at the website, what happened to Paul Sanders?  Did he ever get in trouble?  And the Russians?  Or were they dropped due to the statue of limitations

Saunders will hopefully be charged with a multitude of crimes soon, as the followup investigation should be about wrapped up.
The Russians have been charged with both state and federal crimes, and their trials are pending.