Sheppard’s retirement was announced in a short email from chief of Operations Mike Volesky that was sent to Region 3 wardens on Wednesday. The Billings Gazette obtained a copy of the email from the warden’s union representative, Sam Christiansen, who is a labor specialist for the National Fraternal Order of Police.
“Everyone is happy he’s gone,” Christiansen said. “But they wish he would have been terminated instead. We wanted blood in the water, but it’s good that he’s no longer there...”
In the past year alone the department has dismissed its Montana State Parks chief, and paid him a settlement amount the department is unwilling to reveal to the public; demoted the Fisheries Bureau chief, who then left the agency; demoted its chief law enforcement officer while keeping his pay the same and placed another candidate in the position.
I don't feel there is any loss in Region 3 with Sheppard's removal, many of us didn't want him in the first place, with that sham of a hiring forum almost 3 years ago. I empathize with Christiansen's sentiment that he should have been terminated, rather than removed, especially to the bison position they closed with Dood.
Hopefully, they will get a supervisor that understands some fish/wildlife biology and people - especially respect for other employees.
