Posted: Yesterday 1:36:24 PM EDT
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Shows up to training under the influence, bottle of vodka in his toolbox and unapproved ammo in his duty weapon? The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department fired longtime Game Warden Dustin Balfanz after a captain reported that he drove a state patrol truck to a training event while apparently under the influence of alcohol. An April 16, 2026, termination notice also cited prohibited ammunition in his duty weapon and a bottle of vodka found in the vehicle's toolbox. Balfanz had worked for TPWD since Nov. 1, 2008, giving him more than 17 years with the agency. The department classified his dismissal as misconduct and declared him ineligible for rehire, according to disciplinary records reviewed by The Hawk's Eye. Captain Reported Alcohol Impairment at Morning Training The incident occurred around 8:15 a.m. March 27, 2026, at a law enforcement training event near Columbus, according to an April 1, 2026, letter from Game Warden Captain Logan Griffin. Balfanz arrived in full uniform after operating his state issued patrol truck, Griffin wrote. The captain described red eyes and an odor of metabolized alcohol, writing that Balfanz "appeared to be under the influence of alcohol." According to Griffin, Balfanz said he had been drinking the night before and had gotten very little sleep. Griffin determined Balfanz could not remain on duty and drove him home. "I transported you to your home because you were not fit for duty and reflected poorly on TPWD in your state of being," the captain wrote. The letter cited agency rules prohibiting employees from being under the influence of alcohol while on active duty or operating vehicles for work while impaired. Termination Notice Added Vodka and Ammunition Findings The April 16, 2026, termination notice, issued by Law Enforcement Division Director Ronald VanderRoest, cited the training incident and added two findings. "Your duty weapon was found to be loaded with prohibited ammunition," the notice stated. It also said a bottle of vodka was found in the toolbox of Balfanz's state vehicle. Balfanz submitted a response to the proposed disciplinary action, and TPWD said it considered that response before deciding to terminate his employment. A Career That Included Henderson and Gonzales Counties. Balfanz entered the field with the Texas Game Warden Academy's 54th cadet class, which TPWD's June 2009 graduation announcement listed as 51 cadets headed to assignments across the state. The agency identified his first assignment as Henderson County. In April 2010, a Henderson County Sheriff's Office release published by KLTV identified Balfanz and fellow Game Warden Shawn Smith as the officers who located a missing fisherman dead in his boat on Lake Palestine. KLTV also quoted Balfanz in July 2016 about a boat taking on water at Cedar Creek Reservoir, where other boaters helped those aboard and he reported no significant injuries. A June 23, 2017, profile in The Gonzales Inquirer reported that Balfanz transferred to Gonzales County on June 1, replacing Game Warden Dan Waddell after eight years in the Henderson County area. The newspaper described Balfanz as a Victoria native who had worked as a probation officer before joining TPWD. It reported that he earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a master's degree in interdisciplinary studies with concentrations in criminal justice and communication at the University of Houston-Victoria. Balfanz told the newspaper that his duties included conservation enforcement, border assignments, disaster response and youth outreach, and that the move brought him closer to family. An online r sum in Balfanz's name lists his game warden employment as November 2008 through April 2026. It includes a master peace officer credential awarded in 2016 and firearms instructor proficiency dated 2018. The r sum also lists Glock armorer training in 2023. The Texas Tribune's Government Salaries Explorer listed his annual salary as $93,937 in its April 1, 2026, entry, before the termination notice. Dismissal Included a Rehire Ban. The termination notice directed Balfanz to return TPWD keys, equipment and other agency property to his supervisor. "You are ineligible for rehire because your termination is associated with misconduct," VanderRoest wrote. Link 
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Froot Loops are all the same flavor. They just taste like froot. Whatever the heck that is.
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But did they tag him with a DUI like any other person caught driving drunk? Not that hard to pick up a phone................ Bet he still gets his pension and all beni's related to it though. |
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| Holy cow under the influence at 8:15 in the morning? I mean, if that's isolated and from a night bender, you shoulda called in, but to willingly drink that early....goodness gracious. |
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Originally Posted By ControlsEngineer: 17 years and nobody had a clue? Somebody's covering they're own ass I’ve seen this before. I bet it was more like 15 years of behaving himself then a few years ago something happened and he started drinking, a lot, then started drinking on the clock bit by bit until it was constant. Never seen it in a game warden, but regular street cops and firefighters have a higher than average percentage that do this. Stress is a bitch if you don’t deal with it properly. |
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Originally Posted By fxntime: But did they tag him with a DUI like any other person caught driving drunk? Not that hard to pick up a phone................ Bet he still gets his pension and all beni's related to it though. He'll probably get the part he paid into, like most pension eligible employees that don't reach a retirement... as most pension plans involve employees paying toward them. |
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Originally Posted By fxntime: But did they tag him with a DUI like any other person caught driving drunk? Not that hard to pick up a phone................ Bet he still gets his pension and all beni's related to it though. Workplace sanctions may not equal criminal PC. Without someone witnessing him drive while intoxicated it's hard to pin the case on him. No such standard for an admin investigation which appears they got him on justifiably. If he's vested which it looks like he should get his retirement just like any other employee along with the subsequent benefits. |
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Originally Posted By Oldgold: What is illegal ammo? And how many tickets did he write for people doing far less? I'm assuming Game warden rules specify troops can only carry whatever rounds are approved and issued by their range staff. He probably had something else loaded. Who gets fired over a ticket for the wrong ammo? He more or less did. |
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z - Deplorable Neanderthal Garbage per liberal media.
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Originally Posted By vaughn4380: I’ve seen this before. I bet it was more like 15 years of behaving himself then a few years ago something happened and he started drinking, a lot, then started drinking on the clock bit by bit until it was constant. Never seen it in a game warden, but regular street cops and firefighters have a higher than average percentage that do this. Stress is a bitch if you don’t deal with it properly. Originally Posted By vaughn4380: Originally Posted By ControlsEngineer: 17 years and nobody had a clue? Somebody's covering they're own ass I’ve seen this before. I bet it was more like 15 years of behaving himself then a few years ago something happened and he started drinking, a lot, then started drinking on the clock bit by bit until it was constant. Never seen it in a game warden, but regular street cops and firefighters have a higher than average percentage that do this. Stress is a bitch if you don’t deal with it properly. Exactly what I was thinking, in the sense of having a man on the team that long, obviously help is/was available... I realize we humans can hide stuff pretty well but then too, seems like somebody could have done him a solid and "helped him" into treatment. Hard to believe nobody had a clue; And I'm sure he thought "I never got in trouble before". |
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Originally Posted By ControlsEngineer: Exactly what I was thinking, in the sense of having a man on the team that long, obviously help is/was available... I realize we humans can hide stuff pretty well but then too, seems like somebody could have done him a solid "helped him" into treatment. Hard to believe nobody had a clue; And I'm sure he thought "I never got in trouble before". Originally Posted By ControlsEngineer: Originally Posted By vaughn4380: Originally Posted By ControlsEngineer: 17 years and nobody had a clue? Somebody's covering they're own ass I’ve seen this before. I bet it was more like 15 years of behaving himself then a few years ago something happened and he started drinking, a lot, then started drinking on the clock bit by bit until it was constant. Never seen it in a game warden, but regular street cops and firefighters have a higher than average percentage that do this. Stress is a bitch if you don’t deal with it properly. Exactly what I was thinking, in the sense of having a man on the team that long, obviously help is/was available... I realize we humans can hide stuff pretty well but then too, seems like somebody could have done him a solid "helped him" into treatment. Hard to believe nobody had a clue; And I'm sure he thought "I never got in trouble before". There are tons of people who were on the straight and narrow for decades then suddenly spiraled out of control into alcoholism and drugs because of unresolved stress, mental health, or family issues. |
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Originally Posted By Oldgold: What is illegal ammo? And how many tickets did he write for people doing far less? I'm assuming ammunition that he was not issued. And I'm also assuming because he is a game warden, he's probably writing tickets for fish fuckers and not DUI (unless you're on a boat  ).
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Froot Loops are all the same flavor. They just taste like froot. Whatever the heck that is.
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Originally Posted By Echd: He'll probably get the part he paid into, like most pension eligible employees that don't reach a retirement... as most pension plans involve employees paying toward them. Originally Posted By Echd: Originally Posted By fxntime: But did they tag him with a DUI like any other person caught driving drunk? Not that hard to pick up a phone................ Bet he still gets his pension and all beni's related to it though. He'll probably get the part he paid into, like most pension eligible employees that don't reach a retirement... as most pension plans involve employees paying toward them. Although if I were busted at year 17, I should be able to take that and finish it with another municipality that is a part of the Texas Municipal Retirement System. But I doubt I'd get my 2 to 1 match from my city 
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Froot Loops are all the same flavor. They just taste like froot. Whatever the heck that is.
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Originally Posted By fadedsun: I'm assuming Game warden rules specify troops can only carry whatever rounds are approved and issued by their range staff. He probably had something else loaded. Who gets fired over a ticket for the wrong ammo? He more or less did. Originally Posted By fadedsun: Originally Posted By Oldgold: What is illegal ammo? And how many tickets did he write for people doing far less? I'm assuming Game warden rules specify troops can only carry whatever rounds are approved and issued by their range staff. He probably had something else loaded. Who gets fired over a ticket for the wrong ammo? He more or less did. Ironically my nephew just left my house an hour ago and was bitching about his duty ammo being old. Little tiny PD will not give him new ammo until qualifications. Which keeps getting pushed back because they are waiting on gen 6 glocks. One round was even seated deeper than the others. I offered to give him new ammo but he was worried he would get in trouble. I have a bunch of various brands and loads I purchased from PD trade in sales, but he doesn't know what grain they carry. |
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Originally Posted By AttachedFile: Ironically my nephew just left my house an hour ago and was bitching about his duty ammo being old. Little tiny PD will not give him new ammo until qualifications. Which keeps getting pushed back because they are waiting on gen 6 glocks. One round was even seated deeper than the others. I offered to give him new ammo but he was worried he would get in trouble. I have a bunch of various brands and loads I purchased from PD trade in sales, but he doesn't know what grain they carry. Originally Posted By AttachedFile: Originally Posted By fadedsun: Originally Posted By Oldgold: What is illegal ammo? And how many tickets did he write for people doing far less? I'm assuming Game warden rules specify troops can only carry whatever rounds are approved and issued by their range staff. He probably had something else loaded. Who gets fired over a ticket for the wrong ammo? He more or less did. Ironically my nephew just left my house an hour ago and was bitching about his duty ammo being old. Little tiny PD will not give him new ammo until qualifications. Which keeps getting pushed back because they are waiting on gen 6 glocks. One round was even seated deeper than the others. I offered to give him new ammo but he was worried he would get in trouble. I have a bunch of various brands and loads I purchased from PD trade in sales, but he doesn't know what grain they carry. I work with two Ohio agencies that are required to only carry ammo issued by the agency. It is even in their policies and procedures and is a disciplinable offense to be caught with something else in their duty firearm or BUG. They also can be subject to random inspections to make sure the correct ammo and number of rounds is on each agent. Very specific. I assume it is a legal thing. |
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The ammo thing is giving me flashbacks to 1997. I had a security job in the Myrtle Beach SC area. I was young and had a few braincells (just a few), so my boss sent me to be the (state required) training officer. Later, the firearms instructor as well. We were a SMALL company, less than ten people by this point. Only one other guy was armed. This is his story I had one guy, essentially a wannabe Texan (he wanted us all to call him Tex). He was the nicest guy in the world, but a little, off. One night I showed up at 3:00 a.m. and asked him to unload his weapon and place it and the ammunition on the desk. Sure enough, he had three different kinds of ammunition in his model 66 Smith & Wesson. I asked him what happened and he said he want to see how it felt so he shot up all the duty ammo I gave him and the practice ammunition His speed loaders were also a mismash of whatever he had. There wasn't even a set pattern such as two hollow points, two full metal jacket, etc. He just picked up ammunition at random, 38 Special and 357 Magnum (which the state did not allow, it was 38 Special only even though we could also carry up to 10 mm and 12 gauge shotguns  ). I went back to my vehicle and got another box of ammo and proceeded to load his speed loaders and his weapon for him and let him reholster. I also let him know in the most urgent sense that if I ever found any ammunition on his body that was not issued, I would not be pleased . I only checked him once more, about 2 months later and no issues.So I could see why there has to be a rule saying what ammunition someone can carry. Because people would end up doing some dumb shit. |
Froot Loops are all the same flavor. They just taste like froot. Whatever the heck that is.
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