New agents will fill vacancies across the state, LDWF says
Nine new enforcement agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries graduated in a ceremony held Wednesday in Baton Rouge.
Secretary Charlie Melancon addressed the class, which will be disbursed across the state to fill vacant positions.
“We feel that the six months of training you received in the academy will make you an outstanding agent in the field,” Melancon said. “The job you hold is very important as you are the last line of defense in ensuring our wildlife and fishery management plans are carried out so that future generations can enjoy everything Louisiana has to offer.”
Col. Joey Broussard, head of the LDWF Enforcement Division, presented certificates and recited the Oath of Office, making the cadets’ transition to commissioned agents official.
“We welcome these cadets into the Enforcement Division ranks,” Broussard said. “They will now shift into phase two of their careers as they get real hands-on experience during the next six months when they are assigned to a field training officer in their respective regions.”
The nine new agents are:
Michael Cook, 29, of Shreveport, assigned to Caddo Parish.
Joshua DiBenedetto, 30, of Winnfield, assigned to Winn Parish.
James Gregory, 28, of Hornbeck, assigned to Vernon Parish.
Tib Guillory, 24, of Ville Platte, assigned to Allen Parish.
Steven Jackson, 27, of Pontchatoula, assigned to St. James Parish.
Austin Landry, 22, of Metairie, assigned to St. Charles Parish.
Joshua Laviolette, 31, of Metairie, assigned to Jefferson Parish.
Joshua LeBouef, 27, of Baton Rouge, assigned to East Baton Rouge Parish.
Jared Riddle, 23, of Baker, assigned to Catahoula Parish.
Landry received the firearms award given for the best marksman in the class. Laviolette received the physical training award for being the most fit, and Jackson received the academic award for having the highest grades.
Laviolette won the overall award, which is a cumulative score from the firearms, academic and physical training categories, according to a release.
