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

[Elkaholic daWg]

Maybe it is time we use the initiative process and request that WDFW gets rolled into the Washington  State  Patrol similar to what  Alaska  has. This would cut out the top, get rid of Wecker, and give these officers the support they need.

Why would transferring enforcement to WSP get rid of Miranda Wecker?  By your example of Alaska and Oregon, those states have transferred enforcement duties to the State Police, but retain F&W departments.  The same would probably happen here.

That and how do we think hunters would fare in the mob rule initiative process of   :yike:Pugetropolis?? Careful what you suggest


It wouldn't get rid of her, but she would no longer have any influence/power over enforcement officers.  You are right, that in Oregon the "game wardens" work for OSP, while the natural resource management is under ODF&W.

I don't like what I see in Oregon, as the wildlife troopers are still troopers and when traffic issues become a problem, they are out checking to make sure semis are chained up etc., instead of remaining focused on catching poachers.

[ucwarden]

Once more with feeling, who was the director of Wildlife pre merger and what is his role today?

I believe it was Curt Smitch, until 1998 when Jeff Koenings took over

And I looked up Smitch and it appears he is some kind of consultant.

[blackdog]

yes and now we have identified the man behind the curtain. A consultant, now I wonder he consults for? 

[stevemiller]

What authority does the WSP actually have?I have WSP friends and they all seem to say the same thing,In WA. they patrol the highway for the most part and they assist the other LEO 

[blackdog]

I would strongly oppose F&W enforcement moving to the WSP. Moving it to the County Sheriffs is a possibility though......

[Sportfury]

Just a  suggestion guys on merging. Trying to think outside the box and find a way to get rid of the problem and help us out at the same time.

[blackdog]

Keep the ideas coming Sportfury its up to others to justify their opposition, me included.
 

[ucwarden]

What authority does the WSP actually have?I have WSP friends and they all seem to say the same thing,In WA. they patrol the highway for the most part and they assist the other LEO 

This is one of the urban myths that has always cracked me up; what officers have more authority than the others.  In Washington all peace officers (police) have the same authority over all laws, with a few exceptions (ie- municipal (city) codes, county codes etc.).  So a trooper has the same statewide authority as a F&W officer.  Troopers already can enforce F&W laws, but are not mandated (nor encouraged) to do so.

Think of it this way; we are all cops, it is just that some us are specialized.

[ucwarden]

Just a  suggestion guys on merging. Trying to think outside the box and find a way to get rid of the problem and help us out at the same time.

I appreciate the suggestion, and you are not alone (a few WDFW officers support going to WSP), but overall I think it's a very bad idea.  I would much rather see a radical change in WDFW, and just leave game wardens in a F&W agency, and get the officers back on-track catching poachers.

[MtnMuley]

Just a  suggestion guys on merging. Trying to think outside the box and find a way to get rid of the problem and help us out at the same time.

I appreciate the suggestion, and you are not alone (a few WDFW officers support going to WSP), but overall I think it's a very bad idea.  I would much rather see a radical change in WDFW, and just leave game wardens in a F&W agency, and get the officers back on-track catching poachers.

100% spot on.

[stevemiller]

What authority does the WSP actually have?I have WSP friends and they all seem to say the same thing,In WA. they patrol the highway for the most part and they assist the other LEO 

This is one of the urban myths that has always cracked me up; what officers have more authority than the others.  In Washington all peace officers (police) have the same authority over all laws, with a few exceptions (ie- municipal (city) codes, county codes etc.).  So a trooper has the same statewide authority as a F&W officer.  Troopers already can enforce F&W laws, but are not mandated (nor encouraged) to do so.

Think of it this way; we are all cops, it is just that some us are specialized.

I guess authority was the wrong word lol.They dont do other things for the most part unless called on or actively see something illegal going on and even then they will call other LE agency.They are a Highway patrol in WA. and thats what they do for the most part.

[ucwarden]

Just a  suggestion guys on merging. Trying to think outside the box and find a way to get rid of the problem and help us out at the same time.

I appreciate the suggestion, and you are not alone (a few WDFW officers support going to WSP), but overall I think it's a very bad idea.  I would much rather see a radical change in WDFW, and just leave game wardens in a F&W agency, and get the officers back on-track catching poachers.

100% spot on.

But as I am learning, very difficult to accomplish in Washington's political climate.

[billythekidrock]

I think it would be a huge mistake to merge wildlife with WSP! Anything we can do to keep the focus on "wildlife only" will benefit our wildlife more.

I agree.

I just heard that the Gov's new budget proposal may take officers from DNR and give them to State Parks. Not sure if this is true, but I heard it from a State Parks employee.

[Sitka_Blacktail]

I think it would be a huge mistake to merge wildlife with WSP! Anything we can do to keep the focus on "wildlife only" will benefit our wildlife more.

In Alaska, the wildlife officers were originally with Fish and Game, then they were switched to the Dept of Public Safety, but were their own division, Brown Shirts (Fish and Wildlife Protection) and Blue Shirts (everything else). http://peninsulaclarion.com/stories/060503/ala_060503ala012001.shtml Then they were merged into one entity as a cost saving measure if I remember right under the same chain of command and were all made blue shirts. Needless to say, that was a disaster for fish and game as the emphasis was on everything else and fish and wildlife took a backseat. It was also a disaster on moral for the wildlife officers because most of them got into the field because of their interest in the outdoors and animals and conservation. That didn't last too long, then they were separated back into separate divisions of The Dept of public safety with their own chain of command. (one of the few good things Sarah Palin got done)

Many in Alaska still feel like Fish and Wildlife officers should get out of the Dept of Public Safety and back with the Dept of Fish and Game.  Washington isn't the only state with this conversation going on. It all boils down to...... You can't efficiently serve two masters.

[HntnFsh]

Once more with feeling, who was the director of Wildlife pre merger and what is his role today?

I believe it was Curt Smitch, until 1998 when Jeff Koenings took over

And I looked up Smitch and it appears he is some kind of consultant.

Didn't Smitch have very close ties to Weyerhauser? Cant believe he is still associated with WDFW. Didn't seem to be vey popular when he was in office. I believe he was one of the originals that wanted to sell tags and licenses to Weyco, for them to sell.