Many thanks for your support during the recent election. The transition from the old administration to the new one has been somewhat slow, but we are progressing. I thank you for your patience. My remarks will be brief, as we are a bit late with this edition of the newsletter and want to get it out to you.

As always, our newsletter is designed to keep our members informed about issues and events. We rely heavily on our members to keep us informed. Communication, people, is the key here. Our regional reps need to stay in touch with members and members need to communicate thoughts, ideas, feelings and issues to their regional reps. If this association is to be responsive to your needs, you must be an active part of it. I would like all regional reps to make contact with me as soon as possible. I know that recent agent transfers and a general lack of communication have left some regions without a current rep. I want this rectified and I will work quickly to see that all regions are adequately represented. Some issues for future discussion in our newsletter (as we receive more information) may include: career development (a discussion paper currently exists on this topic); new performance standards; availability pay; and training. Belated happy holidays to you. We wish you peace, health and happiness in the new year...

National FWOA Officer Election

The election results are in. The new officers of the association are as follows, along with the percentage of the vote each received: President Kevin O'Brien, Concord, NH 64%, Vice President Mike Lucckino, Mesa, AZ 72%, Secretary/Treasurer Ed Spoon, Madison, WI 64%. The transferal of the secretary/treasurer position from Kevin O'Brien to Ed Spoon has led to a change of address for FWOA. The new address is: FWOA, Inc., P.O. Box 45614, Madison, WI 53744-5614.

Assault on Wisconsin Officer

Ed Spoon has sent along a report on the attack on Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Warden John Krull which occurred this past fall. On October 21st, Krull was driving his patrol vehicle in Superior, Wisconsin, when he saw a car driven recklessly through an intersection, nearly running another vehicle off the road. Krull reported the incident by radio to Superior police, then followed the car until it ran off the road into a ditch. When Krull got out of his patrol vehicle, the driver of the car, Todd Berg, 29, approached him. Berg appeared to be intoxicated, and became upset when he realized that Krull had reported the accident to the police. A struggle ensued in which Berg tore Krull's portable radio from its holster, threw it on the road, then began punching Krull in the head. Krull drew his expandable baton and struck Berg several times in the body, but Berg was able to knock Krull to the ground and continue to beat and kick him. Krull suffered head injuries consistent with being struck by a blunt object, such as a rock, and lost possession of his baton. Berg told Krull that he had a .38 in his car and that he was going to get it and return and kill Krull.

Berg began walking toward his car, but stopped, picked up Krull's baton, then advanced again on Krull. Krull drew his .40 caliber Glock pistol and fired two warning shots into the woods. When Berg continued to advance, Krull fired two more shots, striking Berg with both of them. Berg immediately collapsed. Krull walked a short distance in an attempt to get help, but also collapsed. Responding officers found Krull lying in the ditch by the side of the road. He was taken to a hospital in Duluth, where he was treated for facial injuries and underwent surgery to repair damage to the orbital area of his left eye. Berg died at the hospital. According to newspaper reports, he had a history of violent behavior. In 1992, he was charged with battery for allegedly throwing his wife down a flight of stairs; he had violently resisted arrest on that occasion. Berg also had convictions for assault and driving while intoxicated, and was a suspect in several harassment and stalking complaints. He had attempted suicide by jumping off a bridge three years previously. His blood alcohol level at the time of the incident was nearly .16. On December 8th, the county district attorney announced that Krull had been justified in using deadly force to stop Berg's attacks. The last time that a Wisconsin warden was forced to shoot an assailant was in 1929. Krull is recovering from his injuries and looking forward to a return to active duty. Cards and letters of support would be greatly appreciated. Survivors of critical incidents report that continuing expressions of concern and support are just as important as the initial flood of support which follows such incidents. So keep those cards and letters coming!

Freshwater Mussel Case

Two Tennessee men were apprehended in a major wildlife case involving the illegal taking of freshwater mussels on August 2nd. Michigan DNR conservation officers and FWS agents had the pair under surveillance on the Grand River, just north of Grand Rapids, Michigan, for about a week. The men used scuba gear to illegally harvest about a ton of mussels. After leaving the area and entering Indiana, they were apprehended by the officers and charged with both state and federal wildlife violations. The mussels, scuba diving equipment, a truck and a boat were seized. Freshwater mussels serve an important role in the total environment of any water ecosystem, acting as filters in rivers and serving as excellent barometers of the overall health of the watershed. The seized mussels were taken back to Michigan, where they were identified by species, photographed, and released back into the Grand River. The recent growth in the cultured pearl industry in Japan has caused decimation and widespread commercialization of freshwater mussels throughout the Midwest and Southeast. Freshwater mussel shells sell for from $2 to $7 per pound, live weight. The meat from the mussels is generally removed and discarded. Sections of the shells are formed into the nucleus of pearls and implanted into a living oyster, resulting in much more rapid and controlled growth of pearls. A large number of freshwater mussels are currently endangered due to both poaching and habitat loss. A number of states are losing entire species of mussels. The Grand River has been a prime target for freshwater mussel poachers over the past five years. Poachers typically travel to Michigan from other states and sell their illegal takes to buyers in the Southeast.

Carl Wilson and Michigan DNR CO Juris Didrichsons were the primary case agents in this investigation.

North American Wildlife Officers Conference:

Frank Kuncir has sent along the following report on the NAWEOA conference which was held in Harrisburg this past summer. In attempting to keep up the tradition of our association in insuring that we are represented at the annual North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association conference, it was my pleasure to attend their fourteenth annual gathering in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, during the last week of July. Other attendees representing this association included John Meehan, Didi Manera, Bill Anderson, Nancy Hillery and Mike Panz.

The conference was hosted by the Conservation Officers of Pennsylvania (COPA), which consists of members of the state's game commission and fish and boat commission - the agencies charged with protecting the state's natural resources. COPA put its best foot forward and developed an exceptional program agenda for the conference. Although it was hot and humid, the delegates and their families still enjoyed the hospitality of the region, complete with trips to Gettysburg National Military Park and to Hershey Park, one of the country's largest family amusement parks. Assorted planned trips to Lancaster's Amish country and a special golf tournament and sporting clays shoot rounded out the available family activities.

There were over 350 full conference participants from five countries (including Jamaica and Australia), ten provinces and 30 states at the conference. Some organizations were represented by almost 70% of their entire warden force, such as Ontario's National Capital Commission. All told, some 840 participants people attended all or part of the conference. There were many excellent presentations at this year's conference: Chief John Doggett addressed the first luncheon gathering of some 350 officers with a thought-provoking message about the state of the conservation law enforcement profession and where it's headed in the 21st Century. Dr. Peter Dratch of Fish and Wildlife's forensics lab gave an excellent presentation regarding the capabilities of the lab within the realm of serology, explaining how individual samples of wildlife are identified and individualized through tissues, blood, hair, photomicroscopic and DNA evaluation methodologies.

Dr. Gary Alt, a Pennsylvania game biologist, talked on research and management of the states black bears. Alt's humorous and highly informative slide show covered some two decades of bear tagging, measuring, and radio collaring, and was highlighted by anecdotes about close calls resulting from his contact with bears, including crawling into dens with hibernating bears and climbing slender saplings to remove cubs. Alt firmly believes that there are still three equal legs to wildlife management, which includes research and law enforcement. Alt also spoke eloquently about the need to protect habitat from destruction and fragmentation before even the most populous species are driven to extinction.

Kevin Morrison of Perth, West Australia, presented a view of the role of an Australian conservation officer. Retired wildlife conservation officer Sam Hastings of Pennsylvania gave attendees a first hand view of local rattlesnakes, dispelling some myths and mysteries about these reptiles. A panel discussion on Pennsylvania's deputy program was well received. It highlighted the benefits and drawbacks of this valuable asset to Pennsylvania's program. The time donated and dedication shown by these volunteers is far above the meager stipend they receive from the state. Other presentations addressed post traumatic and organizational stress in law enforcement and wildlife contraception to control "nuisance" populations.

No conference would be deemed successful without the inevitable warden skills games. Miraculously, the storms which struck the surrounding area on Friday bypassed these events. Armed with Rolling Rock ale, teamwork and a lot of luck, teams competed in a new round of events, including: an event in which water balloons were fired with a surgical hose by a team of three at a team member some 200 yards away who had to catch same with a trout net while limited to a circle ten feet in diameter - a contest which produced wet contestants and onlookers, as the balloons frequently burst upon launch or reaching their targets; a "sled dog team handling" event in which teams of wardens hitched up to leather leads and steered by mushers wearing oversize galoshes competed against each other' a team slalom canoeing contest in which participants employed pre-warped, undersized paddles; and assorted hatchet, knife and rock throwing contests, all under time and while jogging a one mile closed course The team that walked off with the honors was comprised of members of Maryland Natural Resources Police.

At the business meeting, Dave Hall was nominated and unanimously voted an honorary lifetime membership to NAWEOA. I addressed the board regarding the status of Mexico's membership, either as a country, individual wardens, or provincial officers. Previous NAWEOA directorships had sent letters to that country's natural resource protection organization representatives to affirm their "status" as a member nation of the organization. No representatives from that country have yet joined or attended conferences. With the assistance of Chente Bustamante, contact addresses of current appropriate Mexican wildlife and environmental protection personnel have been forwarded to the board to again extend NAWEOA's invitation to join the association.

I would be remiss if I did not again note how positive these conferences are and how beneficial they can be for refilling your sails, making new friends, and reaffirming professional acquaintances. As to family benefits, I can quote past NAWEOA president Bill Peters, who has said that his children have been raised on a diet of love, travel to NAWEOA conferences, and the friendships made while attending them - and that his kids have turned out exceptionally well by anyone's standards. Should you get a chance to attend a NAWEOA conference, you'll find the time well spent, both professionally and personally. Next year's meeting is in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; the year after we're in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Reward Contribution

Thanks to the FWOA board for approving a $100 reward to California Fish and Game wardens for the information leading to the capture of the subject accused of taking the life of California warden William Garner on April 19th. Garner was killed in a hit and run accident. Garner's assailant fled to Oregon, where he was turned in by his wife in response to the approximately $3,000 reward that was offered. He's since been extradited and faces six felony counts, including manslaughter.

As mentioned last year, Bill Peters graciously donated a copy of his kingfisher print to FWOA for fund raising purposes. At the silent auction at this year's NAWEOA conference, the framed print brought $315. If the planned 1996 in- service comes to pass in March, with consecutive sessions, then we may be able to begin the auction process for this beautiful print.

A Note From The Editor

This association was born in the summer of 1986 through the collective efforts of many of you and in direct response to the "consistency study" initiated by Fish and Wildlife's Washington office. One of the activists who got FWOA underway - and served as the association's first president - was Don Patterson. Don and I had been friends since the late 70s, when we both worked as rangers at Colonial National Historical Park in Virginia along with  Frank Kuncir and FWS LEO Mike Panz. Because of my experience as editor of Ranger magazine for the Association of National Park Rangers and my interest in and support for the outstanding work all of you do to preserve and protect America's wildlife, Don asked me to serve as editor of your newsletter - an offer I readily accepted. I served in that capacity until the early 90s, when Len Lisenbee took over the job, then resumed as editor the spring before last. All of which is a preamble to a concern that I'd like to share with you...

It's now been almost a decade since FWOA was founded. During those ten years, FWOA has done an outstanding job in advancing your profession, in fighting to protect your jobs, and in working to improve your ability to defend wildlife. It has also improved communications among agents, officers, and wardens. But a review of the newsletters over the years has shown a notable drop (with some exceptions) in summaries of serious and/or significant incidents and cases, general news about agents and their families, and reports of legislative, legal or administrative actions with direct consequence to you and your work. Despite the efforts of Messrs. Patterson, Stover and O'Brien, the tide of contributions is steadily ebbing. As Kevin noted in his message, this is your newsletter, and will only be as informative and consequential as you make it. All of us in the government - and most particularly those of us in land management agencies - are in the midst of a period of great stress and considerable organizational danger, a situation not likely to improve much in the near future.

It is therefore imperative that we communicate with each other regularly, both within and between professional organizations. As members of FWOA, it's your duty to keep your fellow agents apprised of what's going on in your corner of the world and in the agency in general. Please send along your contributions now. They need not be long, nor do they need to come on disk. A simple report or press release mailed to my address or to Kevin will be sufficient. Look at past issues for the types of information that have been included in FWOA newsletters, particularly regarding the categories noted above. Send your submissions to Bill Halainen. There's no email address at present, but I hope to be on Internet within a few months.

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This page last revised 5/ 16/98