Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to end deputy waterway officer program

PENNSYLVANIA (WHP) — The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is ending its deputy waterways conservation officer program fresh off the heels of the PA game commission letting 140 employees go last week.

“Effective Tuesday, September 1, 2026, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s Deputy Waterways Conservation Officer program will be ending,” a spokesperson with the commission told CBS 21 in a statement.

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Active deputies were told on Aug. 12 of the commission’s decision, according to the statement.

Deputies have served as part of the law enforcement program for more than 100 years and the decision was not reached without intense consideration, the commission told CBS 21.

The commission told CBS 21 that “cessation of the program” was a natural evolution of modern professional conservation law enforcement.

READ MORE | PA Game Commission explains surprise decision to end deputy game warden program

PFBC has 36 active deputies statewide, the commission confirmed. Of the 76 patrol districts, 29 have deputies, and 10 districts have only two deputies.

Most recently, the deputy waterways conservation program welcomed in 12 graduates in June 2022.