Arkansas Game and Fish Commission honors Warden of the Year, others during ceremony

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission recently recognized several of its officers for their work with the commission.

Commissioner recognized the Arkansas Game Warden of the Year, granted a Meritorious Service Award, the Lifesaving Award, the Boating Game Warden of the Year and the K-9 Award.

GAME WARDEN OF THE YEAR

Game Warden of the Year was given to David Foret of Mountain Home.

Officials cited two enforcement actions Foret took recently, the first being spotting a poacher scattering bait while he was turkey hunting. Foret returned the next day and found the poacher’s hunting blind and cell camera. He returned to the site for six days before coming across the poacher and another man entering the blind.

Foret cited the men for hunting violations, officials said.

In a second instance, Foret saw a man catching over the limit and undersized fish while he was crappie fishing. He returned the next day in uniform and found the man doing the same thing. The fisherman was cited.

Foret was one of 12 Wardens who were nominated.

MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD

Lt. Adam Baker received the rarely given Meritorious Service Award. Officials said it was for his performance beyond expectations.

Baker and his wife are active in foster care, officials said, going as far as to organizing a Family Fishing Day in 2017 for foster families. That same year, he and other officers saved a family from a burning housing complex on Lake Hamilton.

In 2019, Baker got help for a female victim and arrested her abuser. In 2020, he helped rescue a suicidal man in Faulkner County, and in 2021, he used the Heimlich maneuver to save a choking woman. Recently, he rescued a nonverbal child wandering on Highway 10 near Lake Maumelle, officials said.

LIFESAVING AWARD/ BOATING GAME WARDEN OF THE YEAR

Cpl. Bernie Soliz was honored with both a Lifesaving Award as well as being named the Butch Potts Boating Game Warden of the Year. Soliz, also the 2022 Boating Officer of the Year, worked 452 boating hours, made over 4,000 contacts and wrote over 175 boating-related citations, including 10 for boating while intoxicated or under the influence. Soliz also saved the life of a motorcyclist with his quick thinking to improvise a tourniquet, officials said.

K-9 AWARD

K-9 Ruby, led by her handler, Kurt VanMatre, earned the division’s K-9 award after playing a key role in more than 64 AGFC and criminal violations and assisting in a multistate homicide investigation.

OTHER AWARDS

Brady Smith: recognized for receiving 2024 National Wild Turkey Federation Game Warden of the Year award.

Cpl. Robby King: Waterfowl Game Warden of the Year.

Sgt. Jeff Dalton: Warden’s Star.