Greenville-based game warden receives Warden of the Year honors
WINSLOW — Game Warden Investigator Josh Bubier was honored as the Maine Game Warden of the Year as the Maine Warden Service celebrated its 139th anniversary March 27 at the Winslow VFW with the annual awards banquet. Bubier is stationed in Division D in Greenville.
Gov. Janet Mills attended and spoke at the banquet which gives special recognition to game wardens for their performances in 2018. It includes the recipient of the Maine Game Warden of the Year award, and recognizes the Game Warden Supervisor of the Year, the Legendary Game Warden of the Year and highlights individuals and groups who assisted the Maine Warden Service.
Achievements that were recognized included incidents where human lives were saved and other awards highlighted the conservation of Maine’s fish and wildlife resources in ways deserving of special recognition. The following were recipients of this year’s annual awards.
As the 2018 Maine Game Warden of the Year Game Warden Investigator Josh Bubier does an outstanding job at many levels in his position at the Maine Warden Service. He is assigned many tasks to assist with searches, manhunts, illegal hunting activity, search warrants and more. Bubier has a great working relationship with law enforcement and the DA’s office in the Somerset County. This past year, Bubier was selected to be a part of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. He often assists with training at the Advanced Game Warden School, instructing topics such as hunting incident investigation as well as search and rescue and is a member of the Evidence Response Team.
Bubier is a mapper and planner for the Maine Warden Service Incident Management Team and has been for many years. He has a unique skill set to identify and place resources in high probability areas. Bubier demonstrated this during the summer of 2018 when a high priority search came in for a missing elderly woman in Millbridge. The conditions were wet and cool and she was not dressed for the weather. Bubier’s timely, accurate assignment of search resources no doubt saved her life.
On April 25, 2018 Bubier responded to the most serious and important call of his career in the town of Norridgewock. Bubier played a crucial role in the events that unfolded in the search for a suspect in the death of Somerset County Deputy Cpl. Eugene Cole. In addition, Bubier’s excellent attitude, personable demeanor and outstanding work ethic has earned him a seat at the 2019 National Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Leadership Academy.
For these and many other outstanding attributes, Game Warden Investigator Josh Bubier is named the 2018 Maine Game Warden of the Year. The award shall be presented to any member of Warden Service who, consistently in the past has conducted themselves in such a manner as to display an exceptional expertise in the areas of conservation law enforcement, management, community and public relations and all aspects of a game warden’s duties and during the past year has performed in a manner that reflects continued performance in this manner.
The 2018 Legendary Game Warden Award is presented to Retired (1970-2006) Game Warden Michael Eaton (Dover-Foxcroft). Eaton’s career spanned over 36 years, most of which was spent patrolling the woods and waters of Piscataquis County.
He began his career in June of 1970, his first patrol was Jonesport where he worked until he transferred to Dover-Foxcroft in 1972. He took his responsibilities seriously and worked tirelessly to apprehend the intentional violator. Eaton’s knowledge of fish and game enforcement is rivalled by few in the ranks of both retired and active game wardens. Eaton knows the habits of hunters, trappers and fishermen, as well as intentional violators and developed a keen knack for being at the right place at the right time. Eaton was recognized for his work several times during his career including the coveted Warden of the Year honor in 1985.
He is a legend among both game wardens and sportsman alike and remains a respected authority among the Maine Warden Service. For his expertise in fish, game and recreational law enforcement, his efforts during his 36-year career and ongoing efforts to apprehend the intentional violator, Retired Warden Mike Eaton is named the 2018 Legendary Game Warden of the Year.
The Legendary Game Warden of the Year award shall be presented to any retired member of the Maine Warden Service who, consistently in the past, conducted themselves in such a manner as to display exceptional expertise in the areas of conservation law enforcement and since retiring has continued to provide a passion for meeting the goals and mission of the Maine Warden Service.
Among the 2018 Exemplary Service Awards honorees is Game Warden Josh Beal (Ripley). He is recognized for his outstanding efforts to apprehend intentional violators of fish and game laws while maintaining an excellent relationship with the district attorney’s office during case management.
A 2018 Maine Warden Association Merit Awards was presented to Dan Rinard, Appalachian Mountain Club’s Maine woods operations manager. Rinard was recognized for supporting game wardens in the greater Greenville area for many years by offering support for search and rescue, outdoor education and public safety.
Christian Jaques of St. George, Quebec and Troy Haley of South Portland were each recognized with Exemplary Service Awards for their Feb. 25, 2018 efforts in helping save the lives of two snowmobilers who had driven into open water near Moose River in Rockwood.
Exemplary Service Awards provides recognition to a civilian(s) for highly meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service. For this award, conduct above the ordinary course of duty, when a civilian, because of individual or team initiative, courage and diligence and aids with the goals and mission of the Maine Warden Service.