Thank you for allowing me to respond with comments regarding a cartoon that appeared in the Lewiston Sun Journal on Sept.10.

Maine’s game wardens are tasked with enforcing many laws and regulations. The primary focus of the Maine Warden Service is, of course, protection of fish and wildlife through education and law enforcement. Engaging in the enforcing of laws and rules with people engaged in hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation can be a tricky business.

The men and women of the Maine Warden Service work night and day, in all kinds of weather, to enforce laws, protect fish and wildlife, and keep people safe. Overall, they do a great job, and care much about the people they keep safe and the wildlife they protect.

Game wardens know that most people who hunt and fish comply with rules and regulations. Our statistics show this as well. Wardens are trained to look beyond the letter of the law and to strive to work within the context of the spirit of the law. This is most often the case.

Fish and wildlife laws and regulations are not created by game wardens, but rather by the citizens of the state speaking through the Maine Legislature and the lawmaking process. Sometimes, fish and wildlife laws and regulations are unpopular when enforced. The warden service is criticized when we enforce laws, and when there is a perception that we aren’t enforcing laws.

The Maine Warden Service and our employees attempt to be professional and understanding of the circumstances of each situation and try to respond accordingly. Like everyone, game wardens sometimes do make mistakes. When these mistakes are brought to our attention, we take steps to correct them. When a fish and wildlife offense is pending in the court; in order to ensure that a person’s rights are not violated, it is unfair and inappropriate for the warden service to comment.

Unfortunately, when such a case is unresolved and has been made known to the public through a story in the media, only some of the facts are made known. The public then sometimes draws conclusions and passes judgment on a partial understanding of the facts of the case. As frustrating as that is for people like myself, who strive to make known a truthful and complete account of an event, that’s the nature of law enforcement.

As a law enforcement agency, we do expect criticism. Criticism, especially constructive criticism of any portion of government, including the Maine Warden Service is the right and, in a sense, the obligation of each citizen. Criticism is how adjustments to government are made for the benefit of the people. We expect criticism and try to evaluate constructive input for potential ways to improve. The Maine Warden Service exists for the citizens of Maine.

Sometimes, criticism goes too far. The right of free speech in our society does carry some responsibility. This responsibility was not met when a Sun Journal cartoon on Sept. 10 depicted a Nazi soldier addressing a family as a potrayal of the manner in which game wardens conduct their duties.

When asked, the Sun Journal explained this was a humorous exaggeration of reality. It was mentioned that the message in the cartoon was to suggest that game wardens might be heavy-handed, based on a recent case involving unlabeled game meat – an incident that was incompletely represented in a recent Sun Journal story.

In this cartoon, the poor attempt at humor was irresponsible and distasteful. Portraying a Nazi soldier – the likes of who killed millions of innocent people – playing the role of a game warden addressing a family is offensive.

I think that using a little thoughtfulness, creativity and responsibility would have produced many other ways to ‘exaggerate reality’ and suggest that game wardens might be heavy-handed.

Col. Thomas A. Santaguida is the chief game warden for the state of Maine.