Law enforcement gets a lot of attention in the media, whether it’s in newspapers or on television. 
There are different divisions of law enforcement, from police officers to investigators, sheriffs and detectives. One area that may not get as much attention or aren’t as visible as those blue and reds atop a police car, but still play a very important role in keeping a community safe and conserving the surrounding areas, are game wardens. Game wardens serve an integral role in small and large communities to preserve wildlife and enforce the laws that keep both animals and humans safe. 
Mark Anderson is one of three game wardens that patrol Henderson County for potential violations and protection of the parks and wildlife. Anderson’s love for wildlife started long ago and his career with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) in 2007 with him graduating from the 58th Texas Game Warden Academy in 2013.
“I always had a passion for the outdoors and knew that a typical 9-5 job would not be for me,” Anderson said. “I grew up hunting and fishing and wanted to be able to ensure outdoor recreation opportunities for present and future generations.”
The typical day-to-day for a game warden can vary and they must enforce multiple rules and laws as well as assist multiple agencies on calls. At the end of the day, game wardens are still officers of the law and take each situation seriously in preventing wildlife from being destroyed or prevent people from taking advantage of helpless animals. 
“Texas Game Wardens are State Peace Officers,” stated Anderson.     
“Public safety is a large part of our job, and our focus is on conservation law enforcement. Game wardens patrol for hunting and fishing violations, water safety enforcement as well as other state laws. We assist other local, Federal and State Agencies as well. Game Wardens use specialized equipment such as ATVs, boats and 4x4 trucks to access and patrol the lands and waters of Texas.”
Covering huge portions of land and water, especially around Cedar Creek Lake can be a challenge. With only three wardens patrolling the area in Henderson County, law enforcement relies on building relationships within their communities and vigilant citizens to participate in making the job easier and safer for everyone involved. 
“We are tasked with patrolling three major lakes and two rivers as well as all the land in between,” Anderson said of the area covered by him and his colleagues. “The work in this county can be very demanding at times. Cedar Creek Reservoir is by far our busiest waterway during the summer months. Hunting season is usually very busy as well. We rely on landowner relationships and concerned citizens reporting violations, as well as high visibility patrol.”
As previously mentioned, game wardens enforce State law as well as some Federal statutes. Summer months can be particularly tricky for law enforcement, especially game wardens as the number of people in parks, as well as on the water, increases, as does the danger. Boats are the same as vehicles and carelessness on the water can lead to tragic consequences, which has seen an uptick in recent years in the Cedar Creek Lake area.
“While on patrol, a game warden must be ready for anything,” Anderson said. “During the summer months you can expect to see us on Cedar Creek conducting water safety inspections. We are looking for life jackets for everyone on board as well as other safety items including the engine cut off lanyard. We also check to make sure the driver is not intoxicated as boating while intoxicated carries the same penalty as driving while intoxicated in a motor vehicle. Specific to Henderson County, the summer months are usually busier.”
An important thing for those in the community to consider, is that everyone can help when it comes to protecting wildlife and each other. A strong relationship between citizens and law enforcement builds trust and helps prevent crimes or violations from even taking place. When everyone looks out for one another, that helps game wardens by establishing a line of communication and support within the community.
“Public outreach is an important part of the job. I enjoy meeting with different groups and organizations,” Anderson said of his community. “It provides an opportunity to meet the people we serve and talk about common problems as well as answer any questions they might have.  
All the hunting and fishing laws we enforce can be found in the Outdoor Annual, a yearly publication available anywhere hunting and fishing licenses are sold.” Anderson also said that those laws are also available through something as simple as your cell phone on the Apple AppStore and Android.
At the end of the day, Anderson refers to the old adage said by law enforcement everywhere. “When you see something unsafe or illegal, call 911.” The Cedar Creek Lake area is quite expansive and with some help from the community, game wardens’ jobs become that much easier. “Report potential or observed violations. It is a big county, and we rely greatly on public information and complaints from landowners to help identify problem areas,” Anderson said.
For potential violations of game law or to file a report, citizens can visit the Operation Game Thief organization on the TPWD website at https://tpwd.texas.gov/warden/connect/ogt. Operation Game Thief is Texas’ Wildlife Crime-Stoppers Program, offering rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction for a wildlife crime.