DFG News Release

Retired DFG Assistant Chief honored as Shikar-Safari Wildlife Officer of the Year

Chris Patin, a recently retired Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Assistant Chief of Enforcement was named Shikar-Safari Wildlife Officer of the Year. The award is given for extraordinary service to protecting California’s wildlife resources.

On a stretch of San Diego County shoreline late at night in 1981, a lone diver in a black wetsuit came trudging up a steep hill to his parked vehicle. He carried heavy bags up from the water’s edge while looking warily around to see if he was being watched. He saw no one. Back and forth he went until he finally had everything loaded into his vehicle. The man was completely unaware that rookie DFG Warden Chris Patin watched his every move. Patin had earlier observed a vehicle parked along the road and stopped to investigate, as he states, “because something just didn’t look right.” He monitored the area for hours until the man appeared. With restraint, he waited until everything was securely packed away in the vehicle before he made his move. And when he did, he found the poacher with 113 illegally taken lobsters in possession. It was his first big case and remains one of his most memorable. And now, having made many other big cases in his 30 year career, Patin was honored as the Shikar-Safari Wildlife Officer of the Year.

The Shikar-Safari award is given annually to a wildlife officer who has shown dedication to the fish and wildlife resources of California. Both as a field warden in the 1980s and his most recent position as Assistant Chief, Patin has clearly demonstrated this dedication.

“Chris has always led by example with a tenacious pursuit of poachers and polluters, and continues to implore the newest game wardens to do the same,” said Nancy Foley, Chief of the DFG Law Enforcement Division.

As he promoted throughout his career, Patin took a Lieutenant position in Santa Barbara, Captain’s position in Long Beach and spent the last 16 years of his career as Assistant Chief in Fresno, where he very recently retired. Patin realized throughout his career that strong administrative skills mean stronger cases and more efficient use of a warden’s time. He diligently pressed all those he supervised to adhere to stringent standards in report writing and record keeping. As a result it saved countless cases that may have been lost due to technicalities.

Among the other reasons Patin was selected, was his development of a hard fought change in DFG management structure resulting in creation of the Law Enforcement Division. The new structure allowed prioritizing of law enforcement resources to better serve California’s fish and wildlife. He also took on the responsibility of working with the California Legislature to update and strengthen many outdated sections of the Fish and Game Code. The stronger laws closed loopholes.Outside his wildlife protection efforts, Patin led DFG in the annual “Battle of the Badges” blood drive for Fresno and Madera counties. Under his leadership, DFG won for most blood donations in proportion to employees in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

As he retired from law enforcement, he passed along some wisdom to the rookie wardens of today’s game warden force. “Stay focused on the good things the job has to offer, on what you can accomplish and not what frustrates you,” Patin said. “And most of all keep that fire in your belly for the job.”

Shikar-Safari Club International was founded in 1952 for the purpose of advancing knowledge concerning wildlife of the world, independently and in cooperation with zoological societies, universities and museums. It is the 27th year the club has honored a DFG wildlife officer.