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Article: Thin warden force leaves some gaps
- Article from:
- Oakland Tribune
- Article date:
- April 10, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2006 Oakland Tribune. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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SACRAMENTO -- An essential corps of California cops has dwindled
by nearly half, to 1950s levels, in a crisis that is leaving gaps in
everything from homeland security to protecting endangered species,
state officials have acknowledged.
The wardens call themselves the "thin green line" that is growing
thinner all the time.
The Department of Fish and Game blamed the problem of not being
able to fill authorized warden positions -- or even keep good
officers -- on low pay and inadequate benefits.
Then there are the new and deadly perils in populous California
that have forced them to carry assault rifles. Statistics show that
per capita wardens and U.S. Drug Enforcement agent have the ...