Eleven new game wardens joined the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Enforcement Division at a Sept. 11 graduation and swearing-in ceremony at Antioch Baptist Church in Conway.
Southeast Arkansas assignments in the 2026 class include Cody Halpaine of Benton to Jefferson County, John Johnston of Monticello to Drew County, and Wesley Cornish of Warren to Cleveland County. Cole Dawson of Russellville was assigned to Ouachita County.
Cadets completed 835 hours of training that began May 10 at the H.C. “Red” Morris Training Center east of Mayflower, covering self-defense, firearms, first aid and rescue, criminal law and wildlife code enforcement. From hundreds of applicants, 16 were selected to begin school and 11 graduated.
Cornish earned the Survival Swimming Award and the Joel Campora Memorial Outstanding Achievement Award. U.S. Magistrate Judge Joe Volpe administered the oath; Col. Joe Williams, chief of AGFC Enforcement, urged the new wardens to keep learning in the field.
