Game Warden Col. Pete Flores Receives National Honor

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AUSTIN – Col. Pete Flores, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Law Enforcement Division Director, has received the first-ever Legacy Award from the National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs.

The award, a bronze sculpture of a vigilant game warden called “Standing Watch” was presented by Gene Elms, law enforcement director for the Arizona Game and Fish Department at the meeting of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission May 24.

In conferring the award, Elms said it was in recognition of Flores’ “contributions and undaunted work in securing a future for wildlife, conservation and game wardens” in the United States.

Flores is retiring at the end of the month after more than 27 years of state service. Chief of Staff David Sinclair, a 40-year TPWD veteran, has been named acting division director.

Under Flores’ leadership, state game warden training moved from an outdated 1978-vintage, 6.2-acre facility in central Austin to a new 220-acre campus with 39,000 square feet of state-of-the-art building in Hamilton County.

Beyond an expanded role that includes environmental crimes enforcement, undercover investigations of interstate wildlife crimes and extensive outreach to build rapport in local communities, game wardens also assumed greater border security duties on Flores’ watch, adding more “boots on the ground” and new types of boats, vehicles, and firepower.

A native of Laredo, Flores went to work for TPWD following his graduation from Texas A&M University.