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California Fish and Game Warden Association
Established in 1922, the Association was founded by Wardens 85 years ago who saw the need for an employee's association. CFGWA represents Wardens in teh State of California. The CFGWA actively monitors and involves itself in legislation that either positively or negatively impacts the environment, wildlife, fisheries, peace officers and/or Game Wardens. CFGWA produces a quarterly newsletter, The Green Line.
Thank you for visiting our website, we are pleased to have you stop by. Please feel free to contact any of our board members or officers.
Todd Tognazzini
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President -
Todd Tognazzini
A Fish and Game Warden for 25 years. Todd is FTO and instructor at the Fish & Game Academy. Prior employment was as a Firefighter for CDF, Park Ranger for the National Park Service at Channel Islands National Park, and as a Marine Biologist for DFG. Defensive Tactics and firearms instructor with DFG. Graduated with a BA from California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly). Todd teaches Natural Resource Management and Natural Resource Law Enforcement classes at Cal Poly. Certified Scuba diver. Todd Coaches and referees baseball and basketball at the high school and college levels. Todd is happily married with three beautiful children. His oldest child is also a graduate of Cal Poly, while the next is attending college in Tennessee on a baseball scholarship. Their youngest is attending High School. Todd's wife works at Paso Robles Police Department.
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Nicole Kozicki
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Secretary - Nicole Kozicki
Warden for 17 years, currently covering Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. Grew up in Oakland. Holds a BS degree in Criminal Justice from Cal State Hayward. Specializes in environmental crimes such streambed alteration and endangered species cases. Received Directors Achievement Award for environmental prosecution. Received special recognition by Contra Costa County Fish & Wildlife Committee and Fish & Game Commission for outstanding work in the environmental field. Warden Kozicki is married with two daughters, ages 7 and 9. Her husband is a Captain with the Oakland Police Department.
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John Wheeler
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Treasurer - John Wheeler
Warden for 9 years, currently a Lieutenant Specialist in the Investigative Services Unit of DFG. BS in Business Administration- concentration in corporate finance, CSU Sacramento. Worked 2 years in the Special Operations Unit and 2 ½ years with the Delta Bay Enhanced Enforcement Team. Recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal for exceptional work performance under unusual, complicated, and hazardous conditions during a complex commercial abalone investigation while in the SOU. Firearms Instructor, FTO, Weaponless Defense and Impact Weapons Instructor, Boating Water Rescue and Enforcement Certified, Swift water Rescue and Recovery Certified, Internal Affairs and backgrounds Investigator. Two brothers are Parole Agents with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Another brother is in the Sheriff academy. Wife is currently in nursing school.
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Jerry Karnow |
Legislative Liason - Jerry Karnow
Warden for 17 years, currently covering Nevada, Sierra, and Placer Counties. Natural Resources Management, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; Administration of Justice, Sierra College. Prior to DFG was employed by California Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection for 6 years as Firefighter. Certified Open Water Diver. Field Training Officer (FTO) and Firearms Instructor. Served as Boarding Officer on Marine Patrol Vessel in Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors. Worked jointly with Specialized Crime Unit, LAPD. Worked deep covert operation with the SOU and trained as covert/overt wildlife investigator. 1994 Received Directors Achievement Award for exposing illegal reptile poaching as well as special Congressional Recognition for officer of the year Yuba-Sutter Counties in 2002. Sacramento Valley Peace Officer of the year 2001. Peace Officer of the year 1999. Brother and sister were both firefighters with CDF; brother currently Engineer with El Dorado Hills Fire. Two uncles were LAPD Detectives until retirement after 30+ years service. Married with one daughter. Wife was a CDF Engineer and currently a Registered Nurse; she has a BS in Natural Resources Management from Chico State.
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Jake Bushey, Sr. |
Regional Director - Northern - Jake Bushey, Sr.
Warden for 28 years, currently covering Shasta, Siskiyou, & Modoc Counties. AA Shasta College, Adminstration of Justice. Prior assignments include undercover work and marine patrol. Was recognized as DFG’s first “Warden Of The Year” in 1991. Spent time on assignment working with Montana Game Wardens. Before joining DFG he was a logger and worked on a US Forest Service Hot Shot firefighter crew for 5 years. Jake comes from a stellar tradition and family of law enforcement officers. He is a Third Generation Fish and Game Warden whose father died on the job. His brother was a deputy sheriff in California and Nevada, his sister works in the California University Police system. Warden Bushey’s son, daughter-in-law, a nephew, and his nephew’s wife are all officers with the California Highway Patrol. Another nephew is a city police Sergeant and other cousins work for LAPD. Bushey is a former Baton Instructor and FTO. Jake is married and also has a daughter teaching in Siskiyou County.
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Richard Coelho
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Regional Director - Southern - Richard Coelho
Warden 27 years, Currently covering Riverside County based out of Big Bear Lake. BS in Zoology, UCLA. Prior to DFG was a Conservation Officer/Warden with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources for four years. Worked Yucaipa Patrol District before transferring to Big Bear. Married with a daughter 25, and two sons 22 and 20. Wife Penny has been the support behind his career in Wildlife Law Enforcement
Contact Richard Coelho
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Ben Thompson |
Regional Director - OSPR - Ben Thompson
Warden for 9 years. AA Sacramento City College-Administration of Justice.
Currently works as a Warden in the Office of Spill Prevention and Response
(OSPR) based in San Diego. Duties are enforcement of laws designed to
prevent oil spills in marine waters. Prior Warden assignment ranged from
enforcing commercial fishing regulations on the ocean to trapping laws in
the desert. Prior to becoming a game warden, worked for the DFG's Hunter
Education Program for six years. DFG certified Rangemaster and Field
Training Officer. Certified Open Water Diver. Married with a two-year old
daughter.
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Bob Farrell
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Regional Director - Marine - Bob Farrell
Warden for 10 years, Lieutenant Specialist based in Humboldt County. Currently a Masters Degree candidate, Emergency Services Administration, CSU Long Beach. BS Professional Studies, CSU Long Beach. AA Biological Sciences, College of the Redwoods. Assigned as the NOAA OLE (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Law Enforcement) Liason Officer. Also assigned to assist NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Serivce) Special Agents in investigations of federal fisheries violations in California. Responsible for conducting investigations of state managed commercial fisheries. Certified United States Coast Guard licensed Master NMT 100 Tons, Mate; Inspected vessels NMT 1600 Tons, Uninspected Fishing Vessels NMT 5000 Tons. Prior experience as a Deputy Sheriff (R) Contra Costa County, Mate aboard Fish and Game patrol vessel, Commercial Fisherman in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska, Foreign Fisheries Observer with the National Marine Fisheries Service. Certified Open Water Diver and SCUBA Instructor. Teaching credential in Law Enforcement Occupations. Glock Factory-Certified Armorer. Married with two children.
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Gary Schales
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Air Services Liason
-Gary Schales
Warden for 8 years. Gary M. Schales is the newest of the DFG Air Service's Warden-Pilots.
While he is working on his eighth year as a pilot for the department, he has been flying for over 20 years.
Warden-Pilot Schales earned his Bachelors of Science Degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University of Daytona Beach Fl. and has over 8000 hours flying time as a Commercial Pilot flying single engine and multi engine aircraft and is a current instrument rated pilot. He has earned his flight instructor rating to teach in single engine, multi engine and instrument flight as well as all ground instructor certificates and has taught other pilots how to be flight instructors.
As required for the position. Warden-Pilot Schales is an Airframe and Powerplant certificated mechanic (A&P). He is currently the only A&P that holds Inspection Authorization (IA) for the department which is not a prerequisite for the position.
His hobbies are Hunting and Fishing with his son Nicholas. His newest hobby is Electric RC airplanes with daughter Katie, model building, wood work and of course hanging out with family. Gary's wife of 12 years is Kathleen. Kathleen is a stay at home mom and her background is as an elementary teacher.
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Robert Morgan
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Asst. Air Services Liason
-Robert Morgan
Robert Morgan- Warden Pilot
Warden Pilot for 17 years, currently assigned to the Sacramento Air Services Base at Sacramento Executive Airport. BA Psychology, with minor in Art, CSUS, AA in Psychology, ARJC, AA Aeronautics, SCC. Prior to DFG was employed as a Corporate Pilot, an Aviation Mechanic, and a Flight Instructor. An Officer in the USAF, highest rank, Captain and a lab assistant in the Natural Science Dept. at American River College. Aeronautical Ratings, Airline Transport Pilot, Airplanes Multi Engine Land, Commercial Pilot Airplane Single Engine, Certified Flight Instructor, Multi and Single Engine, and Instruments, Advanced Ground Instructor, Certified Airframe and Power-plant Mechanic, Have accrued over 18,000 flying hours. Former Red Cross Water Safety Instructor, Lifeguard, Swimming and Diving Coach, Provisional Community College Instructor in Aeronautics. Second generation Pilot both parents were aviators, The eldest of three Brothers and One Sister. My youngest brother is in FAA Enforcement, my uncle retired LAPD Detective, 28 years service. Married with one daughter and five step children.
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Steven Stiehr |
Regional Director - Central - Steven Stiehr
Warden for 9 years, currently a member of the Delta Bay Enhanced Enforcement Program. BA CSU Sacramento, and Advanced Masters Candidate CSUS. Prior to work with DFG was lifeguard and commercial fisherman in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Worked as Scientific Aid with DFG for 3 years. Worked 5 years patrolling Contra Costa, Alameda and San Francisco. Works undercover with the Special Operations Unit. Certified Open Water Diver, Boating Water Rescue and Enforcement Certified, Swift water Rescue and Recovery Certified, Remington Armorer. Recipient of Director’s Achievement Award for outstanding contributions to DFG. Commendation for professionalism and pride in training small boat handling to Fish and Game Warden Cadets. Commendation for professionalism and commitment to safety of community and fire personnel during a vehicle fire which closed Interstate 5. His two younger brothers are both in public safety, a Deputy Sheriff and a Firefighter/Engineer. Married with a 7 year old daughter and 3 year old son.
Contact Steven Stiehr
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Lorraine Doyle
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Greenline Editor - Lorraine Doyle
Warden for 22 years currently covering Fresno County. Began in Los Angles County and then worked Stanislaus and Merced districts. BA in Natural Resources, CSU Chico. Formerly worked for California State Parks. Worked in undercover details with SOU. Certified Glock and Remington Armorer, FTO. Currently in 4th year as Region 4 Director on the Board of the North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers’ Association For this international organization she represents officers for the states of CA, OR, WA, HI, AK, NV, UT, CO, ID, MT, WY,AZ, NM and the National Park Service. Father was a California State Park Ranger for 4 years then was with Enivironmental Review for 30 years. Mother was a teacher. Currently divorced with two teenage sons and is heavily involved with their schools and activities; Boosters, PFA, Site Council, hiring panels, chaperone, etc.
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Jim Solis |
Asst. Greenline Editor - Jim Solis
Warden for 18 years, currently based in San Luis Obispo. Previusly worked the Gilroy, Carmel Valley, and San Miguel districts. BA in Natural Resources Planning, CSU Humboldt. Formerly employed with the US National Park Service as a back country Ranger, Crater Lake NP. Worked as a wrangler at Jackson Lake Lodge in the Grand Tetons. CIF basketball referee for the past twelve years and referees playoff games.. Defensive Tactics and Firearms Instructor, Field Training Officer. Monterey County Peace Officer of the Year Award. Competes in mountain bike triathlons. Raised two stepchildren now in their 20’s and has one daughter age 14.
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Bob Orange
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Past President - Bob Orange
Warden for 28 years, currently covering Plumas and Lassen Counties. BA Geography, CSU Chico. Certified from CSUC in EIR Analysis and Reporting. AA in Adminstration of Justice, Feather River College. Formetly employed with the US Forest Service as Fire Fighter/Apparatus Engineer for 5 years. Former EMT; CPR and First Aid Instructor. Certified Open Water Diver, recipient of Director’s Achievement Award for environmental prosecution and the Lifesaving Award. Has worked undercover with DFG Special Operations Unit (SOU-Undercover )and Marine Patrol assignments. Second generation Game Warden, father retired after 38 years with DFG. Mother retired from US Forest Service. His sister and brother-in-law were killed by a drunk driver. Married with two sons attending CSU, Chico and CSU, Sacramento. Daughter is married and teaches in Plumas County. Has one grandson. Wife has a BA in Social Studies from CSU Sacramento and is a Social Worker.
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Joe Mello
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