The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

OFFICER OF THE MONTH - JULY 2005

GAME WARDEN WILLIAM R. LIVEZEY
MAINE DEPARTMENT OF INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) has announced the selection of Game Warden William R. Livezey of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife as its Officer of the Month for July 2005.

For the vast majority of Americans, a law enforcement officer is a man or woman dressed in dark uniform who cruises the streets and highways protecting the citizens as they go about their daily lives. However, the law enforcement profession is quite diverse with a myriad of subspecialties. One such example are those whose responsibility it is to protect our nation's wildlife and natural resources from people who wish to exploit them. Like their counterparts across our nation, the men and women of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife patrol vast areas of forests and lakes, protecting the land and wildlife while enforcing conservation laws, especially those pertaining to night hunters and poachers.

Growing up in rural Maine, Bill Livezey knew at an early age he wanted to join the Warden Service. In April 1990, after graduating from the first combined law enforcement academy, Bill began his career as a game warden. Throughout his career, Bill has balanced the duties of being a district game warden as well as a member of the Resource Protection Unit.

Just one year into his career, Warden Livezey responded to call from desperate parents whose teenage children were overdue from a boating trip. A flash storm had blown their boat to the opposite side of the pond, and when Warden Livezey located it, only one teenager was onboard; her brother had left the boat with the intention of making his way back to shore to get help. After some time, Warden Livezey was able to locate the teen, get him back into the boat and safely bring the two back to their parents. Just when he thought the situation was secured, Warden Livezey noticed a canoe in middle of the lake and motored out to it. There he found two young boys, ages five and seven, who were unable to navigate their small craft due to the howling wind. One of the children was out of the boat hanging onto the side and in grave danger of slipping beneath the wake. In addition to aiding the teenagers, there is little doubt that Warden Livezey is responsible for saving one or both of the young boys that evening.

In the summer of 2003, Game Warden Livezey put together a task force and was the primary agent in what his department called "Operation Fryeburg". Warden Livezey posed as a non-resident hunter tasked with infiltrating a network of night hunters, deer drivers and poachers both in Maine and New Hampshire. By the winter of 2004, Warden Livezey led the largest operation in the department's history including officers from a half-dozen state and federal agencies. This sting operation resulted in more than 100 summonses being served, the arrest and conviction of four of the fifteen individuals involved, and fines totaling more than $35,000.

The following summer, Warden Livezey again infiltrated a family involved in numerous wildlife violations. The small tight knit group of individuals included convicted felons and previous wildlife violators. They hunted night and day, killing indiscriminately, under the influence of drugs the majority of the time. Shooting deer on front lawns in the direction of people's homes, killing and leaving animals in the path where they fell, the group showed total disrespect for wildlife laws or hunting ethics. As Warden Livezey garnered more information and evidence, members of the family began to suspect that he was in fact a Game Warden or a Drug Enforcement agent. He had to act quickly before his cover was blown. Under the most stressful condition, Warden Livezey was able to complete his investigation which resulted in the arrest of eight individuals and more than 200 summonses being issued.

Much of Warden Livezey's dedication is a result of the support of his family; his wife, Gail, and their four children, Amanda, Brooke, Billy, and Morgan. The Livezey family is accustomed to having game wardens around their home, especially during the peak hunting and fishing seasons when their home is generally a staging area for Warden Service activities.

For his actions, Game Warden Bill Livezey was the recipient of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Warden of the Year award for 2004 as well as the Meritorious Service Award. According to Colonel Thomas Santaguida, Warden Livezey's "investigations have been at the core of some of the most successful law enforcement operations carried out by the Maine Warden Service during the last few years". His dedication to his job, the citizens of Maine and its fish and wildlife resources, the area he patrols will remain a safe place for hunting and recreation as well as having a chance for wildlife to flourish for all to enjoy.