NC Wildlife Officers Killed in the Line of Duty

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15th as National Peace Officer Memorial Day and the calendar week of May 15th as National Police Week.  As part of this honoring of officers who have died in the line of duty, below are the North Carolina Wildlife Law Enforcement Officers who have died serving the citizens of North Carolina.  This serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by wildlife law enforcement officers each day.

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John W. Hollowell                 End of Watch:  August 30, 1930

Officer Hollowell was assaulted outside the Chowan County courthouse by three individuals whom he had just testified against for fishing violations.  He died as a result of injuries sustained in that assault.  Two of the subjects were charged and convicted in Officer Hollowell’s death.

Joseph D. Whitaker              End of watch:  November 15, 1936

Officer Whitaker was killed while working night deer hunting in Henderson County.  His assailants were never identified.

Joesph D.Whitaker

William I. Wright Jr.            End of Watch:  October 31, 1948

Officer Wright was thought to have been killed by a person or persons closed season hunting squirrels in Sampson County.  Although it was reported that his killers were known by police, no one was ever charged.

William G. Holler                  End of Watch:  October 19, 1951

Officer Holler was killed in an automobile accident in Mecklenburg County.

Amos M. Bordeaux               End of Watch:  April 10, 1962

Officer Bordeaux was accidentally killed in Sampson County while cleaning his service weapon after target practice.

Amos M. Bordeaux

John O. Edwards                  End of Watch:  August 3, 1963

Officer Edwards was killed in an automobile accident on his way home from a night deer hunting detail.  The accident occurred between Jacksonville and Kenansville, N.C.

John O. Edwards

Dewey H. McCall                  End of Watch:  September 5, 1971

Officer McCall was killed in Burke County after issuing an angler a citation for possession of undersized fish.  The angler left the area and returned to confront Officer McCall.  The assailant was shot by Officer McCall, but survived his injuries.

Dewey McCall

Troy M. Sigmon                    End of Watch:  September 1, 1978

Officer Sigmon was an area leader (a position now referred to as sergeant) in District Four.  He was flying as an observer in a helicopter near Whiteville, N.C. when it snagged a power line while looking for dove bait.  Officer Sigmon was killed when the helicopter crashed.  The pilot survived.

Troy Sigmon

Lloyd (Neil) Mayse                End of Watch:  November 27, 1980

Officer Mayse stopped two brothers for night deer hunting in Northhampton County.  One brother was riding on the hood while the other drove.  After stopping the pair a fight ensued followed by gunfire.  Officer Mayes killed one suspect and was then killed by the other.

parents of Neil Mayes receive a plaque honoring his sacrifice 

William A. Williamson          End of Watch:  December 4, 1985

Officer Williamson was responding to a call for assistance from an officer who had stopped a vehicle for night deer hunting.  He crashed his vehicle traveling to assist the officer and died on the scene.

William Williamson

Will We Allow Salaries That Qualify Law Enforcement Officers to Receive Food Stamps?

Last March, I wrote a piece entitled “What is a NC Wildlife Officer Worth.”  That question came to mind in a broader context this week as I read that NC State Troopers have entered into a class-action lawsuit over pay issues.  The class-action suit is being pursued after Alamance County Superior Court Judge Michael O'Foghludha recently dismissed a lawsuit over broken promises regarding annual pay raises for the troopers.  Among the many points made by troopers in filing the class-action suit is that many of their officers salaries are so low that they qualify for food stamps.

The salary concerns of law enforcement officers in North Carolina can be even more pronounced on the local level.  The University of North Carolina’s School of Government has published a report that list the salaries of sheriff department employees across the state. In many of the more economically distressed counties, sheriff’s deputies are hired at a rate of $25,000 to $29,000 per year.  Pamilco County’s starting salary is only $22,853.  That's roughly $11.00 per hour.

These disparities in pay, along with stagnant salary progressions, has led to officers bouncing from one agency to another in search of higher pay.  Officers with the Winston Salem Police Department recently requested pay raises, in part, to aid with officer retention.

The result of this movement from agency to agency is that the lowest paying departments continually see many of their best and brightest officers take their knowledge, skills and abilities to other agencies.  Those officers that exercise the best judgment, due to experience and common sense, are in demand.  Social scientists refer to this phenomena as “human capital flight.” It is more commonly called “brain drain.”

This human capital flight is occurring at an increased rate with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission’s Division of Law Enforcement.  Wildlife officers with 5-7 years of experience have reached a point in their careers where they are considered seasoned officers and are assuming leadership roles.  They are serving as training officers for new recruits and are eligible for promotion to first-line supervisor.  Yet, these officers have had minimal pay increases since they were hired.

They are also attracting the attention of other departments.

Virtually any wildlife officer with less than ten years of experience can find another law enforcement job tomorrow that pays more money.  One agency has hired three wildlife officers.  Staff from that department has jokingly told NCWRC staff, “Y’all keep training them and we’ll keep hiring them.” 

For years the NCWRC could count on the vast number of people who want to work outdoors to fill the roster and keep it full.  Wildlife officers work in their chosen field because they believe in the mission.  It is a job with tremendous personnel freedom.  But, that formula may not keep ranks filled in the future.

The NCWRC is currently experimenting with offering a shortened recruit school for candidates who have already successfully passed basic law enforcement training.  It was thought that this would draw experienced officers who are serving in other departments.  After the first round of the process, there were only 18 applicants who would receive interviews.   While the NCWRC has officers leaving for other agencies, not many officers from other departments are willing to accept a wildlife job, in large part due to salary issues.

So, is it all purely a matter of salary?  That is doubtful.  The current generation of workers change jobs much more frequently than those of the past.  Add a growing societal disconnect with nature and the likelihood of retaining wildlife officers lessens further. Yet, salary is definite concern.  As salaries have remained basically flat over the past years, the thresholds for receiving public assistance have risen.  It is a truly depressing thought that law enforcement officers, regardless of uniform, qualify for food stamps.  But that is exactly what is happening.

We ask much from our law enforcement officers.  There is an expectation for officers to make accurate, split second decisions concerning the use of force.  Officers are expected to use sound judgment in decision-making that reflects a wide array of possible actions.  There is an almost impossible expectation of officers having the ability to transition from a school or civic presentation and then respond a Paris style attack and then make the transition back.

It begs the question of how much we truly do value our officers.  Surely we don’t ask all that we ask and expect the officers to do it on a salary that qualifies them for food stamps.

25 Signs You Were a Game Warden's Kid

1.     You have a photos, okay multiple photos, of you and your parent with a fawn deer.

2.     Many of your friends’ stories began with, “Now don’t tell your parent this, but…”

3.     As a kid, you always had to wear a PFD when you were around water.

4.     You know what “PFD” stands for.

5.     You took a hunter safety class when you were in elementary school and knew more correct answers than the adults in the class.

6.     On your calendar, seasons are identified by opening days.

7.     Deer jerky was an afternoon school snack.

8.     You can build a box trap for rabbits.

9.     You had a fishing trip with your parent that turned into a stake out.

10.  You only hunted with other game wardens.

11.  Your parent brought home a cap full of wild grapes, plums, or blackberries

12.  Your parent showed up at sporting events in uniform – on their meal break – and answered questions from the other parents.

13.  When you see a nice buck in a field, your first thought is, “Nice decoy.”

14.  You feel comfortable around guns.  You feel most comfortable around a lot of guns.

15.  Your parent brought a boat to your school’s career day.

16.  You still consider “Headquarters,” “The Office,” or “The Capital” as the source of most of life's problems.

17.  You consider hunting shows highly edited and mostly fake.

18.  You know the difference in White Oak and Red Oak acorns.

19.  In your wardrobe, camouflage is still considered a color.

20.  You refer to locations by county instead of town.

21.  Your parent knew everyone that was shopping in the Wal-Mart fishing section.

22.  People in the fishing section now ask you how your parent is doing.

23.  You have a shoulder patch that reminds you of your parent.

24.  You were asked more times that you can count, “Is your parent the game warden?”

25.  You remember being proud to answer, “Yes he/she is.”