Longtime Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division Colonel, Winton Vidrine, passed away on March 2 in St. Landry Parish.
Vidrine, 80, a lifelong resident of Plaisance, worked as a LDWF Enforcement Division agent for 44 years including the last 25 years of his career as the colonel before retiring in 2013.
“The entire team at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is saddened to hear about the passing of Winton Joseph Vidrine,” said LDWF Secretary Madison Sheahan. “A longtime LDWF agent and colonel himself, Winton was instrumental in creating the Louisiana Wildlife Agents Association and building it into the organization that it is today. His work for the state of Louisiana will live on for generations. Winton will be deeply missed, and our prayers are with his friends and family.”
“Col. Vidrine’s name will live on long past his death within the department and our enforcement division. He was the main person responsible for shaping the enforcement division into the professional outfit it is today,” said current LDWF Col. Rachel Zechenelly. “Col. Vidrine is the man that hired me to become an agent, and I worked with him side by side at headquarters the last 10 plus years of his career. My heart goes out to his family. We will mourn his loss, and he will be deeply missed.”
Vidrine started his career with the LDWF Enforcement Division in 1970 working out of the Opelousas Office. In 1972, Vidrine was instrumental in creating the Louisiana Wildlife Agents Association to help organize agents statewide into a collective unit, which is still active today. Vidrine was promoted to lieutenant in 1973 and in charge of covert operations.
Vidrine was promoted to captain in 1976 and was put in charge of over 20 agents within the Opelousas district. In 1978, Vidrine was promoted to major overseeing the Baton Rouge and Opelousas districts. Vidrine was again promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1980 working in New Orleans at the LDWF Headquarters. In 1982, LDWF moved their headquarters from New Orleans to its current home in Baton Rouge.
Vidrine then took over the top position for the LDWF Enforcement Division in 1988, which is a position he held for the last 25 years of his career. He worked under 16 different secretaries during that time.
Vidrine's top priority when taking over for enforcement was training. Beginning in 1990, he implemented a more tailored training program for LDWF Wildlife Cadets that included classes on the laws for fisheries and wildlife management, driving while intoxicated detection, migratory game bird and fish identification, boating, and search and rescue training. These changes increased the training a cadet receives from 12 weeks to over 20 weeks. In 2001, LDWF initiated their first fully accredited and peace officer standards and training (POST) certified LDWF Training Cadet Academy that was completely taught and ran by LDWF agents.
As colonel, Vidrine oversaw the search and rescue operation for the LDWF Enforcement Division following Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and surrounding areas. The search and rescue efforts were recognized by congress in Washington D.C. and led to the LDWF Enforcement Division being named the state’s leading search and rescue agency by the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
During the BP Oil Spill in 2010, Col. Vidrine oversaw agents enforcing the emergency commercial and recreational fishing closures, reporting oil and oiled wildlife sightings, patrolling booming operations, providing security detail for VIPs and escorting media to the oil spill area.
Vidrine is survived by his wife of 60 years, his son and grandchildren and great grandchildren. Vidrine will be remembered always and missed by many. Our hearts are with him and his family during this time.