Game and Fish suspends wildlife officers pending hunting probe
Friday, Jul 28, 2006
Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK - Two state Game and Fish Commission wildlife officers
have been suspended with pay pending an investigation into allegations
of hunting violations, the agency' director said Thursday.
Game and Fish Director Scott Henderson said he was handling the probe
as an internal matter, but he did not rule out other agencies, including
federal authorities, getting involved.
If substantiated, sanctions for the alleged violations could range
from reprimands to termination, Henderson said, depending on the facts
of the case.
"Any allegations against our folks I would characterize as not
trivial," he said. "This could affect people's careers and lives."
Henderson said the allegations were brought to his attention this
week and that supervisory personnel have conducted interviews.
"Both officers were placed on administrative leave on July 18 and the
investigation into the matter is still ongoing," James F. Goodhart, the
commission's chief counsel, said.
The agency would not disclose the names of the officers or give
details about the allegations against them. It also denied a request
made under the state Freedom of Information Act for personnel records
and other documents related to the administrative action, saying it
would do so only after final disposition of the case.
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