Talk about the unexpected!

The recent announcement by Maine’s chief game warden, Col. Tim Peabody, that he will soon be stepping down came as a small bombshell.

Most Augusta insiders felt that Peabody had survived the staff realignments that go with every new administration. In fact, last fall Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Dan Martin stated publicly that he had complete confidence in the warden colonel and that he would be around for the duration.

So what gives? The press release implied that Peabody, who accepted an assistant professorship at Unity College, was merely accepting “a lifetime opportunity that I could not resist.” In other words, a better offer.

Skeptics, who know from experience that “early retirements” are not always what they seem, are wondering if serious morale problems within the ranks of the Maine Warden Service led to Peabody’s decision. Although we may never be sure, early indications are that there is no political intrigue here, that Peabody simply received an offer he could not refuse.

Peabody was named to his post five years ago by Lee Perry. There were some raised eyebrows when Perry bypassed five promotion-qualified warden lieutenants and tapped Peabody, who was a smart, capable warden sergeant. Peabody impressed Perry and the selection committee with his vision and carefully prepared plan to improve public relations of the Maine Warden Service.

How did he do? Peabody made some positive strides on his watch as the top warden. The press release said that “during Peabody’s tenure, the warden service has improved service to the public through enhanced training, increased supervision, innovative field operations, and financing. Much has been done in the areas of preventative enforcement, public relations, community service and innovative operations.”

What the press release didn’t say is that Peabody is making his exit at a time when warden morale is at an unprecedented low. Issues over funding, pay scales, demotions, lack of mission focus, recruitment, and trust in leadership are all having an impact on morale within the ranks of field wardens.

To Peabody’s credit, it appears that relations between the public and the Maine Warden Service have improved. But this may have come at a price. During the past five years, prosecutions of fish and wildlife lawbreakers have declined by a whopping 36 percent. Augusta policymakers will be quick to point out that this is a result of what is called “preventative enforcement.” District wardens will, on the other hand, tell you that this decline in prosecutions is a result of discouraged or dispirited game wardens being less aggressive with lawbreakers.

Peabody was a fine warden and worked hard at his post. Like most of us who set lofty goals for ourselves, however, Peabody’s on-the-job accomplishments fell short of his early aspirations. No doubt students at Unity College will benefit greatly from the broad base of conservation law enforcement experiences that Maine’s former chief warden will bring to the classroom.

As for Peabody’s successor, there are many highly qualified men and women within the warden ranks for Commissioner Martin to choose. Ironically, the commissioner’s biggest problem may be in convincing the most qualified veteran warden candidates to vie for the position. Governor Baldacci’s regrettable decision to saddle the warden service with unfair and disproportionate budget cuts prompted the demotions of some dedicated and skilled warden leaders among the ranks of the lieutenants. Some of these individuals include proven leaders who rightfully belong in the pool of candidates for Maine’s top warden post.

Responding to the Peabody announcement, Martin said, “Statutes require that the game warden colonel be selected from among the game wardens of the department, and I intend to appoint someone from within the ranks. We have over 122 wardens in the department, and I know that we will find the right person to lead the warden service.”

Given the state of the Maine Warden Service, Martin’s selection of Peabody’s replacement takes on an urgency and magnitude of raised significance. In fact, among all the decisions that Maine’s new commissioner will make during his tenure, this may well be the most far-reaching of all.

V. Paul Reynolds is editor of the Northwoods Sporting Journal. He is also a Maine Guide, co-host of a weekly radio program “Maine Outdoors” heard Sundays at 7 p.m. on The Voice of Maine News-Talk Network (WVOM-FM 103.9, WCME-FM 96.7) and former information officer for the Maine Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. His e-mail address is paul@sportingjournal.com.

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