Captain Ray Nilsson is not the only member of the family to serve the Department of Fish and Game. His son retired just a few short years ago himself, Captain Ken Nilsson.

The post Honoring Retired Captain Ray Nilsson appeared first on California Game Warden.

Those of us who still are in possession of magazines for our Glocks will be criminals because they exceed the new limits under the law and there does not appear to be an exception for retired officers.

It is time for all of us to contact the Governor’s office and ask him to veto this legislation.

Thanks to Dymek for reminding me to send this post to you.

The post Are You Ready To Be A Criminal appeared first on California Game Warden.

The young man on my right is Gil Berg, a well-known retired California Fish and Game warden from the 1950s and 1960s era.  Gil worked all over the state, including Gridley, Santa Barbara and Lake Tahoe.  What a pleasure to have him come by!

The post Costco Book Signing a Sell Out appeared first on California Game Warden.

John W. Galloway, wounded on March 10, 1913.  S.F. Co.

Ernest Raynaud, killed on April 16, 1913.  San Quentin Pt., Marin Co.

Frank Cady, wounded on June 1913.  Near Moon Lake, Lassen, Co.

Joseph Nelligan, wounded on June 1913.  Near Moon Lake, Lassen, Co.

George J. Rodolph, killed on Nov 29, 1914. 3 miles East of Los Banos.

Raymond B. Heacock, killed on December 12, 1916. Boudin Island (Isleton) San Joaquin, Co.

Richard Squires, killed on Dec 12, 1916. Boudin Island (Isleton) San Joaquin, Co.

James S. White, killed on Oct 17, 1923. Castella, Shasta Co.

Henry J. Abels, died from a stroke while on patrol on August 21, 1925. Santa Barbara.

John O’Connell, wounded on June 1927. San Joaquin County.

Frank Machado, drowned on June 10, 1928. Pinto Lake, Watsonville.

George Thompson, killed on Sept 7, 1928.  Near Pennington, Sutter Co.

Alan G. Curry, killed on April 30, 1930.  South S. F. Bay, San Mateo Co.

John “Jack” Burke (Ret.), killed on April 30, 1930 while assisting Warden Curry as a volunteer.

Walter R. Krukow, killed on April 20, 1947.  Boulder Creek near Whiskeytown, Shasta Co.

K. Karl Lund, died in his patrol vehicle near Napa on June 14, 1948.

Capt. Arthur Stager, died on duty on Oct. 28, 1948.  Drowned in Fall River near Glenburn, Shasta Co.

Captain Fred W. Hecker, died on Jan. 20, 1950 from a fall from a cliff between Avila and Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo Co.

Clarence L. Brown, died on April 3, 1959. Automobile accident.  Fresno Co.

Russell M. Bushey, Jr. died on July 1, 1969 in Fall River while preparing his patrol skiff for an inspection of an ongoing streambed alteration violation.

Paul S. Smith, died on Dec 19, 1970 while SCUBA diving on duty off shore Pt. Mendocino.

Jean K. Jones Jr., killed on May 14, 1979. Near McAvoy Yacht Harbor in Pittsburg, Contra Costa Co.

Leon Harvey Nelson, died Oct 27, 1979. Automobile accident in Glenn County.

Lt. Robert A. Flynt, died on May 11, 1984. Automobile accident in El Centro.

Lt. Roy J. Reed, died on June 7, 1984. Automobile accident near Bakersfield while in pursuit of another vehicle.

Greg W. Cook, died on Jan 11, 1992. Helicopter accident while investigating an oil spill in the Sacramento River Delta near Carquinez.

Kyle Kroll, wounded on August 5, 2005 during a raid on a marijuana growing operation on Sierra Azul Mid-Peninsula Open Space property in Santa Clara Co.

Based on my experience and the experience of my fellow game wardens, being a game warden is not a job, but a calling. Game wardens believe that it is very important to protect our natural resources for our children and our children’s children. You can see from this story that many have put their lives on the line to protect that resource.  As you read the stories about the wardens who make up the “Thin Green Line” between the outlaws and the precious natural resources of the State of California, take a moment to remember those who were wounded and those who gave their lives in the line of duty.

Read more about it: To read more about game wardens, here in California as well as across the country, you will find many great books available in your local library, or available through online book sellers or as downloads for your Kindle or Nook. I have been fortunate enough to have worked with and known the following California Game Wardens: Jim Wictum, Terry Hodges, Terry Grosz, Steve Callan, and John Nores. Some of the best story tellers I have known over the years have been my fellow game wardens. For a list of a few of my favorite authors, go to www.CaliforniaWarden.com/authors.html.

The post Wardens Killed, Wounded or Who Died While on Duty Since 1900 appeared first on California Game Warden.

Before California was admitted as the thirty-first state by the U.S. Congress on September 9, 1850 it had already had more than twenty years of Spanish and Mexican Fish and Game laws in place.

In 1851 the State of California enacted its first fish and game laws dealing with Oysters.

In 1852 more laws were enacted to protect specific species such as Elk, Antelope, Deer, Quail, Waterfowl and Salmon. At this time in History the task of enforcing such laws was the responsibility of the local authorities.

Some twenty-one years later in 1871 the first two recorded State Game Wardens or deputies as they were known then were appointed. One to patrol the San Francisco Bay and the other to patrol the Lake Tahoe area.

In 1883 the Board of Fish Commissioners (forerunners of the now known Fish and Game Commission) established the Bureau of Patrol and Law Enforcement.

In 1885 the state published it’s first set of Fish and Game laws and during that same year the first Fish and Game Marine patrol was instituted accompanied by a 46 foot vessel.

In 1901 the Game Warden forces reached to a total of fifty men.

In 1907 the Game Warden force expands to seventy-three

In 1933 A separate Fish and Game Code is enacted thus deleting fish and game laws from the Penal Code.

The Law Enforcement Division of the Department of Fish and Wildlife is proud to be the very first State Law Enforcement Agency enacted in California for over 124 years of service.

The role of a Game Warden has evolved with the times, with the men and woman serving to protect the life and property of it’s citizens and those who visit and enjoy California’s Resources.

The post A Brief History of California Game Wardens appeared first on California Game Warden.

In 1991, the freshly slaughtered remains of five elk; two bulls, two cows and a six month old calf were found near the tiny Northern California community of Fall River.  California Fish and Game Warden Don Jacobs, pictured here, led an all-out investigation to find and prosecute those responsible.

The post Inside Badges, Bears, and Eagles: Chapter 19, “The Fall River Elk Killings” appeared first on California Game Warden.

Did you know that if you are ever arrested, even falsely arrested for a crime, such as domestic violence, that would prohibit you from possessing a firearm, the Department can deny issuing you an ID card with CCW authorization. Additionally, if you already have your ID card, you could loose your CCW authorization, either temporiarily or permanently for violating the law.

Yes, I said violating the law, not being convicted.  Of course, if convicted of a crime that would prohibit you from possessing a firearm is a reasonable reason for the Department to immediately revoke your CCW authorization and to demand that you return your current ID card. Should you ever be in the unfortunate position where you are arrested, say for example, for domestic violence, your Department issued ID will be revoked. You will received a letter telling you that you have 15 days to ask for a hearing regarding the revocation.  And remember, the DOJ will notify the Department if you are arrested.  Additionally, if you happen to be applying for a renewal at that time, the renewal will be denied and you will receive a letter telling you that your application has been denied.

If you happen to find yourself in this situation, you may think that you need to wait for the trail date so that you can be exonerated or so that the DA can dismiss the charges or chose not to proceed to trial before you respond to the Department.

What do you do? Do you respond withing those 15 days, even though the case has not yet come to court and the charges have not been dismissed yet?  Well, you need to respond immediately!!! Don’t let the 15 days go by without responding to the Department to ask for a formal hearing.

Let me give you a quick background in how the Department has to manage your CCW authorization. The authority to deny or revoke comes from Penal Code Section 26305.

Penal Code 26305 states in part:  

(b) A retired peace officer may have the privilege to carry a concealed and loaded firearm revoked or denied by violating any departmental rule, or state or federal law that, if violated by an officer on active duty, would result in that officer’s arrest, suspension, or removal from the agency. (c) An identification certificate authorizing the officer to carry a concealed and loaded firearm or an endorsement on the certificate may be immediately and temporarily revoked by the issuing agency when the conduct of a retired peace officer compromises public safety.    (d) An identification certificate authorizing the officer to carry a concealed and loaded firearm or an endorsement may be permanently revoked or denied by the issuing agency only upon a showing of good cause. Good cause shall be determined at a hearing, as specified in Section 26320.

That means, that if you violate the law, or if you are arrested because you are suspected of violating the law, the Department may revoke or suspend your CCW authorization. They have to give you a hearing, but as I have hinted at, you really need to pay attention to the hearing process or your authorization can be revoked permanently.

Unfortunately, the letter you would receive from the Department does not give you all of the info you need to make an informed decision when you receive such a letter. It does not tell you that your failure to respond to the letter and ask for a hearing would result in a permanent revocation. (I have drafted a letter to the Department asking them to correct this situation.)

If it is a denial of your application, their letter quotes Penal Code Section 26310 which states that the Department can deny your application for an ID card with CCW authorization but must give you 15 days to respond to said denial of your CCW authorization.

Penal Code Section 26310.  (a) Issuance of an identification certificate authorizing
the officer to carry a concealed and loaded firearm or an endorsement may be denied prior to a hearing.    (b) If a hearing is not conducted prior to the denial of an endorsement, a retired peace officer, within 15 days of the denial, shall have the right to request a hearing. A retired peace officer who fails to request a hearing pursuant to this section shall forfeit the right to a hearing.

Unfortunately, they don’t provide you with the following section which is most important:  Penal Code Section 26312 (c) which states:  “26312 (c) A retired peace officer who fails to respond to the notice of hearing within the 15-day period shall forfeit the right to a hearing and the authority of the officer to carry a firearm shall be permanently revoked. The retired officer shall immediately return the identification certificate to the issuing agency.“

If the letter is a revocation of your current ID card with CCW authorization, they would send a slightly different letter, quoting section 26315 of the Penal Code.

26315.  (a) An identification certificate authorizing the officer to carry a concealed and loaded firearm or an endorsement may be permanently revoked only after a hearing, as specified in Section 26320. (b) Any retired peace officer whose identification certificate authorizing the officer to carry a concealed and loaded firearm or an endorsement is to be revoked shall receive notice of the hearing. Notice of the hearing shall be served either personally on the retiree or sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested to the retiree’s last known place of residence.  (c) From the date the retiree signs for the notice or upon the date the notice is served personally on the retiree, the retiree shall have 15 days to respond to the notification. A retired peace officer who fails to respond to the notice of the hearing shall forfeit the right to a hearing and the authority of the officer to carry a firearm shall be permanently revoked. The retired officer shall immediately return the identification certificate to the issuing agency.   (d) If a hearing is requested, good cause for permanent revocation shall be determined at the hearing, as specified in Section 26320. The hearing shall be held no later than 120 days after the request by the retired officer for a hearing is received.   (e) The retiree may waive the right to a hearing and immediately return the identification certificate to the issuing agency.

26320.  (a) Any hearing conducted under this article shall be held before a three-member hearing board. One member of the board shall be selected by the agency and one member shall be selected by the retired peace officer or his or her employee organization. The third member shall be selected jointly by the agency and the retired peace officer or his or her employee organization.    (b) Any decision by the board shall be binding on the agency and the retired peace officer.

So the bottom line is this: If you receive a letter from the Department denying your application for an ID card with CCW authorization, or you receive a letter from the Department revoking your authorization, do not delay in responding to the letter.  As noted above in Penal Code Section 26312 (c) or 26315 (c), your future ability to carry a firearm is in jeopardy.

The post Did you know you could loose your CCW Authorization? appeared first on California Game Warden.

One of the goals of this blog would be to give fellow retirees a place to share history and to post their photos.

Retired Captain Phil Nelms has been working to gather more documentation on the history of Game Wardens in CA.  He has been able to accumulate a bit in HQ, but  there is much much more “out there” in boxes stored in garages, attics, rent-a-spaces that is going to be lost forever if we don’t make an effort to recover it now. 

So, if you have any of that “history” please consider sharing it so that it won’t be forgotten. 

Feel free to post your personal history as well.

Thanks

The post Sharing California Game Warden History and Photos appeared first on California Game Warden.

Just out of the academy and rarin’ to go, I arrived in Earp just before Thanksgiving.  The first order of business was meeting my new supervisor, Captain James A. Reynolds.  Captain Reynolds lived in Blythe, which bordered the Colorado River and was located about fifty miles downstream from my new patrol district in Earp.  Reynolds’s entire Fish and Game career had been spent in the desert, with the exception of a short stint in Ventura.  Jim immediately revealed his passion for his beloved desert: “Years from now,” Reynolds said, “after you’ve transferred to someplace up north, you’ll look back on the time you spent here in the desert as the best years of your career.”  He went on to describe the Colorado River as a jewel in the desert, teeming with fish and wildlife.  You never had any doubt about what was on Jim Reynolds’s mind; he would tell you in no uncertain terms.

Badges, Bears and Eagles will be released on March 1, but can be pre-ordered now, on Amazon.

The post Excerpt from Badges, Bears and Eagles, by Steven T. Callan appeared first on California Game Warden.

The post Game Warden Stories and More!!! appeared first on California Game Warden.