The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Law Enforcement Academy today, April 26, graduated its 31st class of cadets into the ranks of LDWF Enforcement Division agents at a ceremony in Baton Rouge.
After seven months of intensive physical and academic training at the academy, 23 newly commissioned agents are ready to begin enforcing hunting, fishing and boating regulations that govern the use of the state's natural resources.
LDWF Secretary Jack Montoucet was the keynote speaker at the ceremony. “Going through the department’s training process has shaped these cadets into agents for what we hope is a long and successful career with the department,” said Montoucet. “I’m proud to be a part of this graduation and to serve as their first secretary of the department.”
Col. Joey Broussard, head of the LDWF Enforcement Division, presented certificates and recited the Oath of Office making the cadet’s transition to commissioned agents official. “We welcome these cadets into the Enforcement Division ranks as they fill much needed positions across the state. Today we celebrate a much deserved graduation day. Going forward these newly decorated agents will be required to hit the ground running with their assigned field agents for additional on the job training for the next six months.”
The 23 new agents are:
Zachary Allen, of Prairieville, assigned to Ascension Parish
Javier Bazaldua, of Plaquemine, assigned to Southern Strike Force
Jonathan Boudreaux, of Raceland, assigned to Plaquemines Parish
Anthony Corner, of Duson, assigned to Plaquemines Parish
Seth Courtney, of Hammond, assigned to East Feliciana Parish
Cameron Densmore, of Farmerville, assigned to Avoyelles Parish
Dylan Egan, of Covington, assigned to Vermillion Parish
Jeremiah Fletcher, of Bentley, assigned to Sabine Parish
Thomas Forehand, of Metairie, assigned to Plaquemines Parish
Justin Greer, of Minden, assigned to Red River Parish
Charley Hawkes, of Jena, assigned to Natchitoches Parish
Richard Heinold, of Highland, Illinois, assigned to St. Bernard Parish
Amanda LeBlanc, of Lafayette, assigned to Cameron Parish
Zachary Meche, of Church Point, assigned to Jefferson Davis Parish
Michael Meserole, of Bossier City, assigned to Bossier Parish
Jonathan Morrison, of Houma, assigned to Southern Strike Force
Jacob Neal, of Deville, assigned to Natchitoches Parish
Harvey Pearce, of Noble, assigned to Sabine Parish
Matthew Perkins, of Lafayette, assigned to Catahoula Parish
Gerald Sander, of Amite, assigned to St. James Parish
James Smith, of Hornbeck, assigned to Sabine Parish
Michael Treadway, of Lake Charles, assigned to Calcasieu Parish
Jeremy Triplett, of Little Rock, Ark., assigned to Desoto Parish
During the graduation ceremony, Pearce received the firearms award given for the best marksman in the class. Pearce also received the physical training award for being the most fit. Forehand received the academic award for having the highest grades. Pearce won the overall award, which is a cumulative score from the firearms, academic and physical training categories.
At the academy, cadets train to enforce the state's recreational boating laws, the state and federal wildlife and fisheries laws and general law enforcement work on the state's many wildlife management areas. The academy also covers general law enforcement training equal to that of other state law enforcement officers.
The graduating agents fill vacancies in LDWF’s Enforcement Division and will be assigned to a field-training officer for their first six months of duty. Now part of the agency’s commissioned officer staff, the agents will join the ranks of those patrolling land and water to primarily detect game, fish and boating law violations. These duties require travel into Louisiana's forests, swamps, fields, streams, bayous, lakes, marshlands, the Gulf of Mexico and on the state roadway system.