Game Warden in Hancock Eatonville opening morning

[pianoman9701]

People love to complain about natural resource LEOs and where they are, and what they are doing. If I'm working duck hunters they tell me I should be working deer hunters, deer hunters will say I should be working the rivers. If I'm on the westside of the county they say I should be on the east, the eastside guys I should be in the north.

Without going into too much detail I can say that in Pierce County on the opener you had a DNR LEO working the state forest, a USFS LEO on USFS lands, a couple WDFW LEOs working the massive Hancock lands in Buckley and Eatonville (which are probably the most deer hunted areas in Pierce County..), and several others working other areas.

Officers go where the people are...It shouldn't matter if that's a WDFW Wildlife Area or a Weyerhauser tree farm, or does it not matter if people slaughter our deer and elk herds on private timberlands???

You guys make it sound like since there was one warden in Eatonville that the entire county was then vacant of coverage...

My complaint isn't about the natural resource LEOs, for whom I have the highest respect. My complaint is about 1. their management team, and 2. The love affair that WDFW maintains with WEYCO and other pay-to-play big timber companies after they screwed the public on land use. As far as people slaughtering our deer and elk, as I said before, if there are specific reports of law breaking, whether it be trespassing, poaching (or slaughter!), or dumping and vandalism, LEOs can be dispatched to investigate these reports as they would reports from any private landowner. Until a crime/violation is reported, they can spend their time on public lands serving the majority of hunters and fishers. If they're being hired as private security after hours (and I have no problem with LEOs getting extra work if they need it), they shouldn't be representing the WDFW or the WDP or any other government entity, in uniform. They should be private security in private security uniforms and in company or personal vehicles. Mileage can't begin to cover the initial expense of a new LE vehicle ($70-100K), or the liabilities incurred by taxpayers when they're working in government uniforms and vehicles.

Ever see a cop standing in Wal mart, with a vehicle parked out front?  Ever see a cop at a football game on Friday night? How about a cop working neighborhood watch?   

Its called extra duty details and law enforcement community has done it for literally decades.  Private companies pay the governing agency a fee for the service and the officer gets a hourly rate above and beyond what he is payed by the state or county.  The officer is being paid to pull extra hours above and beyond what the government is willing to pay him. 

My god we've beat this horse to death at least tewn times on this site.  All of you guyys that just can't stand the notion of  Weyerhauser's existence just get over it.

I get it. We disagree on how our uniformed officers should be used and employed, and about the effect WEYCO and other timber companies have on the citizens of this state by enacting pay-to-play policies. And you guys just can't stand the notion that WEYCO and other big timber companies are getting more services for fewer taxes than you or I. Why don't you just get over it? See how I invalidated your argument like you did mine? Just because someone disagrees with you doesn't mean they're the one who's wrong, if anyone is.

[pianoman9701]

You obviously didn't understand my post where I clearly stated I support the LEOs and have no problem with them working privately to make more money. Both you and Bigtex are going at this like it's an assault on the LEOs when it clearly isn't. I have a problem with them being dressed in department uniforms using the department vehicles. It creates a situation where those equipment resources are then unavailable to the shift LEOs, and the use of the uniforms and vehicles creates liabilities for the government/people when they're not working for the government/people, but for private enterprise. They should be dressed in WEYCO (or other), security uniforms and be driving that company's vehicles. Like any other private security, if they need police assistance, they call in for it. This way, if there's an issue of liability, it falls solely on the hiring entity, not the people of WA.

[bowhunterty]

Saw a Warden twice up on Gifford Pinchot NF during archery season and muzzy.

[pianoman9701]

I'm done, Macs. You know well how I feel.

[fireweed]

Pman the problem with that is it could be said for out police as well, construction companies and pro sports teams hire off duty cops all the time, for traffic control on streets to security at sporting events 

Fine and dandy for overtime officers to watch public gathering, but do they stop people to check their ticket stubs?  Do they check to see if you've smuggled in candy or pop that wasn't purchased at the venue? NO.  That is the job of private security. 

The Cowlitz County sheriff, who is also the president of the Washington State Sheriff's Association,  gets it, and clearly states his deputies are not security guards for Weyerhaeuser.  Other counties and the WDFW need to take a look at his policies and follow this lead.
http://tdn.com/commissioners-want-more-information-about-sheriff-patrols-of-weyco-land/article_06df460c-e3fd-5ba1-ac06-3094d21e9aa8.html

[Mudman]

I will stand with Cowlitz Sherriff!  That's how I see it.  This is no disrespect to Leo, just the opposite. 

[buglebrush]

Pman the problem with that is it could be said for out police as well, construction companies and pro sports teams hire off duty cops all the time, for traffic control on streets to security at sporting events 

Fine and dandy for overtime officers to watch public gathering, but do they stop people to check their ticket stubs?  Do they check to see if you've smuggled in candy or pop that wasn't purchased at the venue? NO.  That is the job of private security. 

The Cowlitz County sheriff, who is also the president of the Washington State Sheriff's Association,  gets it, and clearly states his deputies are not security guards for Weyerhaeuser.  Other counties and the WDFW need to take a look at his policies and follow this lead.
http://tdn.com/commissioners-want-more-information-about-sheriff-patrols-of-weyco-land/article_06df460c-e3fd-5ba1-ac06-3094d21e9aa8.html

    Exactly.  WDFW once again shows it is more concerned about its bottom-line than hunting opportunity.  It shouldn't be in bed with the pay to play timber companies.   

[bigtex]

Does State or forest service pay extra for our public lands to get special patrols?

Actually yes.

WDFW has OT patrols for USFS at Baker Lake, BLM in eastern WA, US Army Corps of Engineers in eastern WA all funded by those agencies. Additionally the Bureau of Reclamation pays for the equivalent of half a WDFW Officer position in Grant County. PacifiCorp pays for a WDFW Officer in Cowlitz County.

This isn't "new" about 20 years ago Bonneville Power paid for like 10 WDFW Officers along the Columbia. Idaho has a couple warden positions funded by outside companies/agencies as well.

[Mudman]

Very interesting, Thanks Tex.  So Gov. paying other agencies in Gov. to get services.  Makes sense as Feds pay states all the time for many things.  But private companies should not be involved, should they?  Complicated for sure.  It just feels wrong to me.

[bigtex]

Very interesting, Thanks Tex.  So Gov. paying other agencies in Gov. to get services.  Makes sense as Feds pay states all the time for many things.  But private companies should not be involved, should they?  Complicated for sure.  It just feels wrong to me.

Happens all the time. WDFW occasionally gets money from DNR to patrol DNR lands, simply because DNR's LE division is so small.

WDFW, DNR, Parks, and Liquor Control have to pay State Patrol to use them for dispatch even though they don't generate enough radio traffic to require another dispatcher. It costs WDFW $5 just for one officer to sign in service at the beginning of their shift, it costs the other agencies even more. There were years that WDFW had to pay around $350,000 for this service. I could go on and on about one state agency charging another agency for a service.

[jackmaster]

I guess I just don't see why anyone has concerns for what any Leo,s or wardens do on THEIR own time?? Doesn't make sense to me one bit !!! I wouldn't want someone questioning my private off duty time..

[trophyhunt]

Go TRUMP!!!!! 😀

[Mudman]

It is important if its law enforcement.  Mercenaries operate similar.  Not comparing the two but the process is similar in some ways. Private creates issues of separation.  Yes TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT!

[hyde35]

Imagine the slippery slope with the multi-layers of rules that these companies put in place--rules about family relationships, photo id and paper permits, shovels, fire extinguishers, firewood collection procedures, berries, mushroom limits, open/closed roads and walk-in areas, motorized vs. non-motorized permits, hangtag visibility, different company permits in different areas.

Shovels, fire extinguishers, firewood, mushrooms, etc. are actually state laws, not just corporate rules/policies.....

when did rules for shovels, fire extinguishers, etc on private land become state laws? They are hunters on private land with fire danger warning as low. I don't think I am required to carry any of those items while hunting Private land by state law.

[ballpark]

I guess I just don't see why anyone has concerns for what any Leo,s or wardens do on THEIR own time?? Doesn't make sense to me one bit !!! I wouldn't want someone questioning my private off duty time..

On their own time using state vehicles?  Who pays for the gas   If all expenses are covered and not on our dime it's not an issue.  I still do not understand why they cannot conduct checkpoints around these areas, it would cover more hunters instead of a select few.  GO TRUMP