AUGUSTA — The commander of the Maine Warden Service said on Wednesday that he has halted the agency’s undercover operations as a result of a newspaper article and photograph of a warden.

Commander Joel Wilkinson spoke during a morning legislative hearing that followed a Maine Sunday Telegram investigation detailing hunters’ accusations that an undercover warden gave them alcohol, shot a deer himself and encouraged them to commit crimes.

Wilkinson said he has shut down the undercover operations to protect the safety of the wardens. He criticized the paper for publishing the warden’s photo.

“I made a conscious decision right then that I was going to shut everything down for the safety of every one of our individual officers,” he said.

Wilkinson also pointed out the Maine Supreme Court recently upheld several convictions for one hunter. The Maine Warden Service previously stated the warden did not “entrap, persuade, entice or tempt” hunters.

Wilkinson said undercover wardens are similar to Drug Enforcement Agency agents that purchase drugs in order to be able to arrest criminals.

The state Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee, which is holding the hearing, will also call Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife commissioner Chandler Woodcock and Attorney General public records ombudsman Brenda Kielty later Wednesday.

Maine warden commander defends service’s actions at hearing

AUGUSTA (Posted 11:20 a.m.) – The commander of the Maine Warden Service is defending the conduct of game wardens during a hearing about undercover poaching investigations.

The Wednesday morning session follows a Maine Sunday Telegram investigation detailing hunters’ accusations that an undercover warden gave them alcohol, shot a deer himself and encouraged them to commit crimes.

Commander Joel Wilkinson pushed back against the paper, saying it should not have published a photo of the warden. He also pointed out the Maine Supreme Court recently upheld several convictions for one hunter.

The Maine Warden Service previously stated the warden did not “entrap, persuade, entice or tempt” hunters.

The state Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee will also call Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife commissioner Chandler Woodcock and Attorney General public records ombudsman Brenda Kielty.

UPDATE: Maine Warden Service takes hot seat in open government inquest