Havre officer becomes Chinook game warden

For Ryan Linder, patrolling the rural landscape of Blaine County is a return to his roots. Linder is the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks' newest game warden, based in Chinook.

For the last three years he's been a patrolman for the Havre Police Depart-ment. Linder, 29, is a native of Flaxville in Daniels County.

"I grew up on a farm, and so did my wife," Linder said. "We're both country kids, and I'm looking forward to working with Blaine County's farmers and ranchers and sportsmen."

Linder graduated from Montana State University with a degree in fish and wildlife management and has honed his investigative skills with the Havre Police Department.

Both his hometown and his law enforcement background are big assets for FWP, said Jim Satterfield, Region 6 supervisor in Glasgow.

"We're excited to have Ryan on board," Satterfield said. "His urban law enforcement experience brings a valuable perspective to our overall staff, and because he's already been trained in many facets of the job, he can hit the ground running. Also, it's nice to have someone from eastern Montana on the staff, someone who's familiar with our part of the state and isn't looking to move elsewhere."

Linder remains a probationary warden until his successful completion of the department's field-training program.

Linder and his wife have a 2-year-old son and an infant daughter.