Nomination Submissions Due May 15

Texas Game Wardens can spend months investigating and building cases against lawbreakers who shoot endangered whooping cranes, poach white-tailed deer, or dump polluting chemicals in waterways, but it takes working partnerships with local prosecutors to bring violators to justice.

A brand-new award created by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) aims to formally recognize a courtroom champion each year for exemplary efforts in prosecuting fish, wildlife, water safety, natural and cultural resource or other environmental crimes in Texas. Nominees may include any prosecutor at the county, district, state or federal level whose action occurred during the previous two calendar years.

“As the Texas population continues to grow, pressure on our natural resources is also increasing,” said Col. Grahame Jones, TPWD law enforcement division director. “In turn, our game wardens are working larger, more complex cases that involve everything from misdemeanors to felonies, from boating while intoxicated to wildlife trafficking rings. This award is a way to recognize efforts of the many dedicated prosecutors across Texas who help us every day to protect natural resources. Enforcement is just part of the equation — without successful prosecution, we won’t get there.”

Nominations are due May 15 each year, and award recipients will be announced at the August meeting of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. Nomination forms and instructions are on the TPWD website.