From Park Ranger to Conservation Police Officer: A Career in Conservation Law Enforcement

Over the course of Eric Johnson's career of over 20 years in conservation law enforcement in rural Connecticut, many people asked him how one gets into that field, and what it is like to work as Park Ranger or Game Warden. In the pages of From Park Ranger to Game Warden, Eric looks to provide some answers to those questions, starting with a section on Eric's path to his career and his early days as a police officer. Eric moves next to some of his observations on topics such as the troubling problem of opiate addiction, that even Conservation Police Officers come across during patrols. Also included is the story of the difficult merger between Park Rangers and Game Wardens in Connecticut in the 1990's. Eric's thoughts on the crucial importance of effective background checks on law enforcement applicants are also discussed here. The last section of From Park Ranger to Game Warden is a compilation of "war stories" from Eric's career; including stories of suspects taken into custody at gunpoint, to arrests for stolen vehicle possession, and even the case of the drunken fishermen who fished with rocks. The story (with a happy conclusion) of a person who was lost for three days in a remote section of Connecticut woods is also recounted here. There is even the story of the time that two boaters thought that their slow boat would be able to outrun Eric on his police mountain bike. Eric's appreciation for having been able to be a public servant, and his respect for the exciting field of conservation law enforcement, are evident in these pages. For anyone who is interested in what kind of experience and education can lead to a career in conservation law enforcement, or who is interested in stories about the different situations that conservation police officers encounter, From Park Ranger to Game Warden will be an enjoyable book.