New report recommends combining PA game, fish and boat commission services

DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. — A new study examining Pennsylvania’s two wildlife agencies is recommending changes that could save millions of dollars.

The study comes as both the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Fish and Boat Commission recently ended their deputy warden programs, eliminating more than 100 positions.

The Wildlife Management Institute, a third-party nonprofit, conducted the study at the request of both commissions. Its goal was to examine ways to improve the agencies’ long-term financial sustainability.

Some notable takeaways, according to the game commission:

The study does not mention a recommendation for merging the PGC and PFBC into one agency.There are recommendations to consolidate services across some administrative areas to increase efficiency (pg. 68).The study recommends the unification of the PGC Bureau of Wildlife Protection and the PFBC Bureau of Law Enforcement. This unified force would be under the purview of the PGC. (pgs. 59, 69).A recommendation to look for opportunities co-locate staff in field offices (pg. 69).

The full study can be found here.

United force

One of its biggest recommendations is to combine the game commission’s Bureau of Wildlife Protection with the Fish and Boat Commission’s Bureau of Law Enforcement.

“The two agencies contain roughly 221 more positions when benchmarked against agencies of a similar size. After careful agency analysis and evaluation, it is possible that the combined workforce could potentially be reduced by about 17% through unified law enforcement and reductions in overlapping executive, legal, and engineering functions,” according to the report.

The study estimates combining certain operations could save about $34 million a year.

“Broadly speaking, the report validated the need to do this study,” said Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith. “It validated the need to look at how we operate and find some of those efficiencies.”

Adding that under the recommendation, the unified law enforcement operation would fall under the game commission.

“I just want to be clear, those are recommendations. There’s nothing imminent that’s going to happen anytime soon. They’re just recommendations that we are now going to look at and determine which ones to pursue and examine further,” said Smith.

Questioning the timing

The study also recommends eliminating the deputy warden program, citing potential liability concerns and the opportunity to create a stronger professional workforce.

“Currently, some support needs are provided by the deputy law enforcement volunteers in both commissions. The deputy law enforcement program in both commissions is a legacy program with declining participation. Deputies receive minimal training before being issued a badge, citation book, and authorization to carry a firearm. Both agencies reported an increase in confrontational engagements during enforcement activities. Using fully trained CLE officers to provide support would reduce potential liability risks of using minimally trained deputies a support.”

The report was published the day after all deputy wardens lost their job. Now, they’re questioning the timing.

“It’s smoke and mirrors,” Kale Geiswite said. “What’s going on at the executive level that they’re not telling people?”

Geiswite served as a deputy game warden for 10 years before the game commission ended the program.

The game commission said the study was ordered about eight months before it was released.

“They knew this was coming beforehand and they could have planned this better,” said Geiswite. “If they had been honest with us deputies from the getgo, we probably would have been more receptive to what’s going on.”

Smith said both commissions independently reached the conclusion that their deputy programs should end, after communicating with one another.

About 140 game commission deputy wardens were let go. Geiswite said deputies were notified by email.

“They continue to say they didn’t know how to break it to us. They didn’t know how to say it,” Geiswite said. “And I’m going to say that was a very unprofessional way to do it.”

Smith said the decision to end the deputy program was not a reflection of the people who served in it.

“My message to our deputy game wardens would be that we appreciate their service and their sacrifice over the years,” Smith said. “The decision to end the program was in no way a reflection on their level or dedication or commitment.”

Not a merger

The game commission is pushing back on the idea that the study signals an impending merger.

The agency said the report does not recommend combining the game commission and fish and boat commission into one agency.

Smith said a full merger would require action from state lawmakers and the governor.

“Ultimately, a merger is a legislative issue,” Smith said. “Both agencies are created by a statute. Only the General Assembly and governor can change the way we function”.

Smith said the report will now undergo further review and discussion with lawmakers, stakeholders, the commissions’ constituents and the fish and boat commission.

The game commission also said any potential staffing changes would require additional Pennsylvania-specific analysis.

“So this report gives us a baseline, gives us some numbers to consider,” Smith said. “Now the next step we believe would be a real PA-specific focus before we can make any determination about staffing orders.”