KRS 150.090: Commissioner's power and duty to appoint all game wardens considered

to be necessary for the efficient administration of the department -- Each game

warden is individually vested with the powers of a peace officer in all parts of

the state -- Employment contract permitted.

(1) The commissioner shall appoint, promote, or take other employment actions to the

ranks, grades, and positions of the department game wardens who are considered by

the commissioner to be necessary for the efficient administration of the department.

(2) Game wardens appointed by the commissioner shall have full powers as peace

officers for the enforcement of all of the laws of the Commonwealth, including the

administrative regulations promulgated pursuant to KRS Chapter s 150 and 235 and

to serve process.

(3) Each game warden is individually vested with the powers of a peace officer and

shall have in all parts of the state the same powers with respect to criminal matters

and enforcement of the laws relating thereto as she riffs, constables, and police

officers in their respective jurisdictions, and shall possess all the immunities and

matters of defense now available or hereafter made available to sheriffs, constables,

and police officers in any suit brought against them in consequence of acts done in

the course of their employment and within the scope of their duties. Any warrant of

arrest may be executed by any officer of the department.

(4) Game wardens charged with the enforcement of this chapter and the administrative

regulations issued thereunder shall have the right to go upon the land of any person

or persons whether private or public for the purpose of the enforcement of laws or

orders of the department relating to game or fish, while in the normal, lawful and

peaceful pursuit of such investigation or work or enforcement, may enter upon,

cross over, be upon, and remain upon privately owned lands for such purposes, and

shall not be subject to arrest for trespass while so engaged or for such cause

thereafter. They may a rrest on sight, without warrant, any person detected by them

in the act of violating any of the provisions of this chapter. They shall have the

same rights as sheriffs to require aid in arresting with or without process any person

found by them violating any of the provisions of this chapter and may seize without

process anything declared by this chapter to be contraband. No liability shall be

incurred by any person charged or directed in the enforcement of this chapter.

(5) Game wardens and other officers charged with the enforcement of this chapter,

shall have the authority to call for and inspect the license or tag, bag or creel of any

person engaged in any activity for the performance of which a license is required

under this chapter, and shall also have the authority to take proper identification of

any person, or hunter, or fisherman who is actually engaged in any of these

activities, and to call for and inspect any and all firearms and any other device that

may be used in taking wildlife and is in the possession of any person so engaged.

(6) No person shall resist, obstruct, interfere with or threaten or attempt to intimidate or

in any other manner interfere with any officer in the discharge of his duties under

the provisions of this chapter. This subse ction shall not apply to a criminal

homicide or an assault upon such officer. An assault upon such officer shall be

deemed an offense under KRS Chapter 507 or 508, as appropriate.

(7) The commissioner may, as a condition of employment, require a newly appo inted

department game warden to enter into an employment contract for a period of no

longer than five (5) years from the date of appointment. If a department game

warden who entered into a contract authorized under this subsection accepts

employment as a p eace officer with another law enforcement agency, that law

enforcement agency shall reimburse the department for the actual costs incurred

and expended by the department that are associated with the initial hiring of that

department game warden, including but not limited to the application process,

training costs, equipment costs, salary, and fringe benefits. The department shall be

reimbursed for the costs from the time of department game warden initial

application until appointment.