A shortage of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources law enforcement personnel has left Oconto County relying on wardens from neighboring counties and the county sheriff’s department to assist with high priority calls.
Oconto Falls warden Mike Stahl retired from the DNR in June, and warden Lee Posusta, who was based in Lakewood, was released in November.
“There are vacancies,” acknowledged Ben Treml, regional conservation warden for northeast Wisconsin and administrator of 16 counties in the region. “We always have people that transfer to other stations, and the baby boomer generation is retiring.”
Posusta joined the DNR in 2013 and was completing his two-year probationary period. Treml did not provide the reason for Posusta’s termination, stating it was a personnel issue.
According to online court records, Posusta committed a duck hunting violation in October and paid a $249.15 fine. He was let go on Nov. 6, but it is uncertain if the violation was a factor in his termination.
The DNR has 22 vacant law enforcement positions in the state, including 12 field officers, three supervisors, four environmental investigation wardens, two recreational safety officers and one investigator.
The state has hired 11 recruits, who will be given their assignments toward the end of the year.
“We’re working to recruit and hire new staffing based on vacancy planning,” Treml said. “We have hundreds of people applying for 10 or 12 positions.
“It’s a specialized law enforcement agency. There aren’t a lot of law enforcement officers that do what we do.”
Recruits must have a minimum of 60 academic credits from an accredited college or university. Well-qualified applicants will have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as natural resources, environmental protection, law enforcement, energy management and government, public administration or education.
In 2012, entry level recruits earned approximately $22 per hour as a starting wage, Treml said. Wardens are eligible to earn overtime pay.
The department uses job fairs for recruitment and also hires from outside agencies, including police and sheriff’s departments and other statewide agencies.
Recruits serve a two-year probationary period, which includes four months of law enforcement academy training and working with experienced field training officers all over the state. Recruits receive specialized training in areas such as criminal and DNR law, vehicle operations, fish and game enforcement, and computers.
Once recruits pass their training, they are assigned to a station and evaluated for a year.
Vacancy rates among the warden positions have dropped statewide over the last six years, according to Treml. In 2009, the rate was 8.16 percent; 2010, 10.72 percent; 2011, 7.44 percent; 2012, 11.13 percent; 2013, 6.84 percent; and 2014, 4.68 percent.
“We appreciate the public in Oconto County being patient (about filling the positions),” Treml said.
He said the public plays a large role in helping the department.
“We rely on the public to be our eyes and ears. They’re a critical part of our job to help protect the environment and for public safety,” he said.
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