Stay updated with breaking news from Eric Seidel. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
More than half the game wardens surveyed by state auditors from the Legislative Audit Division said they feared retaliation from leadership in Helena and complained that the agency was turned into an arm of county law enforcement.
An audit of Montana’s Fish, Wildlife and Parks Enforcement Division paints a picture of employee dissatisfaction, retaliation and fear, while leaders within the department could not provide any human resources
Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Division audit turns up substantial problems with the culture, including fear and intimidation, while finding virtually no human resources department paperwork.
Fifty percent of the wardens believed they had experienced retaliatory behavior or intimidation by the chief’s office in the past five years, yet FWP human resources told auditors it was unaware of any complaints from the enforcement division.
Auditors said that multiple interviews with staff members in the enforcement division said a change in morale can be traced to a decision to centralize management in 2020.