Pennsylvania legislator wants hearing on deputy cuts

Harrisburg — A state legislator is calling for a hearing after the Pennsylvania Game Commission and state Fish & Boat Commission abruptly ended their deputy law enforcement programs.

Both programs will cease Sept. 1, and statements issued by both agencies didn’t give a specific reason for the move. But the decision has caught the ire of at least two state representatives who sit on the House Game and Fisheries Committee, and one is calling for a joint hearing with the Senate and representatives of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office.

State Rep. James Haddock, D-Luzerne County, said he was “blind-sided and upset” by the decision, which he added is also dangerous to the full-time law enforcement personnel who rely on deputies while on patrol.

“I think at a minimum this demands a hearing,” Haddock said.

He learned of the decision after a deputy game warden shared the termination email he received from the Game Commission.

Soon after, Haddock called the executive directors of each agency – Steve Smith of the Game Commission and Tim Schaeffer of Fish & Boat – to ask them why the decision was made.

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“They said they were worried about liability because of the lighter training the deputies receive. I heard them out, but I just don’t buy it,” Haddock said.

He also spoke to the Fraternal Order of Police about the matter, and was told the deputies aren’t covered under union protections.

“These deputies are part-time, they’re paid, covered under workman’s comp and they do valuable work. If there’s a concern about not training them enough, then that’s a management issue,” Haddock said, adding the agencies aren’t claiming the decision was financial. Deputies receive $100 pay for working an 8-hour day.

The move comes while a study looking into the possibility of both agencies sharing some services is ongoing. The study is being conducted by Wildlife Management Institute (WMI), a private company, and was authorized by both agencies in 2025 at a cost of $49,000.

Both John Buffone, press secretary for the Game Commission, and Mike Parker, communications director for Fish & Boat, said the decision has nothing to do with the study.

“WMI report has not been completed yet, so this is unrelated,” Parker said in an email.

State Rep. Dave Maloney, R-Berks County, who is the Republican chair of the committee, said he believes the move to disband the deputy program is evidence of an agency that is “off the rails,” in reference to the Game Commission.

Maloney suspects it’s a precursor to a merger, and he has filed a right-to-know request with the Game Commission seeking information on the WMI study, which was due by the end of June.

Haddock also questioned if the WMI study was a factor, and added an initial report may have already been completed.

He said he was told the report was finished and presented to both agencies, but there were things they didn’t like and it was sent back to WMI just before the decision was made to disband the deputy program.

“That’s a problem. I want the full original report and anything that comes after it,” Haddock said.

“This decision doesn’t bode well for the agency’s mission of protecting wildlife.”

The Game Commission utilizes approximately 140 deputy game wardens, while the Fish & Boat Commission has 36 in its Deputy Waterways Conservation Officer Program.

According to Parker, active deputies were notified of the decision on Aug. 12. He said deputies have served in the agency’s law enforcement program for more than 100 years.

“Coming to this decision was difficult and was not reached without intense consideration,” Parker said. “However, cessation of the program is a natural evolution of modern professional conservation law enforcement.”

Buffone said essentially the same thing about the fate of the Deputy Game Warden Program.

“This decision reflects our focus on having the most efficient and effective full-time, professional workforce,” he said in an email.

“The commission is deeply grateful to the committed individuals who volunteered and served as deputy wardens, providing valuable services to the agency and to the people of Pennsylvania,” he said.