(From Left to Right: LCBA Executive Director Richard Fischer, Sgt. Josh Laviolette and Colonel Chad Hebert.)
A Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enforcement agent was the recipient of a Louisiana Charter Boat Association (LCBA) award at the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting this morning, March 3, in Baton Rouge.
Sgt. Joshua Laviolette received the inaugural Theophile Bourgeois Memorial Award for the law enforcement agent that best exemplifies the LDWF mission, specifically pertaining to promoting professionalism within the Louisiana charter for hire industry.
“Sgt. Laviolette has proven to be a dedicated, through and hardworking Enforcement Agent,” said Colonel Chad Hebert, head of LDWF Enforcement. “He has been a leader in charter guide compliance and investigating guides operating without licenses. He is firm but fair, with a tenacious work ethic.”
Sgt. Laviolette, of New Orleans, primarily patrols the waterways in southeastern Louisiana and has been an agent for over six years. Since 2018, Sgt. Laviolette has led LDWF Enforcement in charter guide regulation citations. Several of these citations involve unlicensed charter operators.
According to the LCBA, the recipient demonstrates above-and-beyond performance and professionalism in the field, while also demonstrating outstanding conservation of our natural resources and promotion of Louisiana fisheries.
“Led by Col. Hebert’s leadership and Sgt. Laviolette’s commitment, LDWF Enforcement has done a tremendous job of increasing the professionalism of the Louisiana charter fishing industry by citing many charter violations, including unlicensed charter operators,” said LCBA Executive Director Richard Fischer. “We thank Sgt. Laviolette for his remarkable and selfless service and we look forward to recognizing LDWF Enforcement’s continued success on this front.”
As part of the award, the Louisiana Charter Boat Association gave Sgt. Laviolette $1,000 for a donation in his name to the charity of his choice, which was the Cure Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Foundation.
The award is named after Theophile Bourgeois who was a charter captain and owner of Bourgeois Charters. His life ended in 2019 during a seaplane crash in which he was credited with saving the lives of two passengers.