LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission recently announced the winner of the Officer of the Year at the AGFC Enforcement Division’s Awards Banquet in Little Rock.
Drew County Game Warden Austin Powell, based out of the AGFC Enforcement Division’s Monticello office, was honored with the award thanks to his tireless work for the organization.
“I’ve got to be honest, it’s a really humbling deal,” Powell said. “There are several other people in this room that deserve the award just as much as I do. I’m just the one that was blessed to be up there and receive it. Day in and day out, every guy and girl that works for the agency goes to work for conservation, and you know it’s a blessing to be able to receive the award I received today.”
In late July, Powell also received the Monty Carmikle Officer of the Year Award, making him one of the youngest winners at 26 years old.
He was also named the NWTF’s Arkansas Officer of the Year and received a Lifesaving Award along with Game Warden Aaron Dillard for rescuing a girl who was being swept downstream.
“His innovative use of technology has allowed him to investigate and prosecute violations that would have gone unchecked in the years past,” said Col. Brad Young, chief of the AGFC's Enforcement Division.
Powell issued 248 citations last year with an average fine rate of $300 per citation.
“There’s a burden of proof that has to be met before you do anything to that extent,” he said. “Just going the extra distance sometimes helps you get that.”
His focus on major violators led to 12 charges of night hunting, 13 for road hunting, 17 for hunting during a closed season (including seven turkey cases and one bear), four for boating while under the influence, five cases of hunting turkey over bait, eight for hunting without permission, four for hunting waterfowl over bait and three for falsifying information.
“We’re very very proud of him,” Young said. “He had some very hard-to-make cases. It took a lot of hours to apprehend some of those violators.”
Powell was among 12 game wardens from around Arkansas nominated for Officer of the Year, including Caleb McClanahan, Jake Stanford, Bradley Huggins, Cody Standifer, Brian Tatum, Ashton Neece, Cody Stone, Roger Tate, Ethan Moore, Troy Faughn, and David Bennett.
