Oklahoma City, OK – They say if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life.

Jarrett Smith may be in that situation.

The 2019 Merritt High School graduate and avid outdoorsman is Jackson County’s new Oklahoma Game Warden.

He's also a SWOSU alumnus, class of 2025, and studied Parks and Wildlife Law Enforcement.

Jarrett's parents are Randy and Teresa Smith.

A proud moment for a dad, Randy got to pin Jarrett's badge on him during his recent swearing-in ceremony.

A law enforcement officer, Jarrett is CLEET (Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training) certified.

Just like Oklahoma Highway Patrol officers, Oklahoma's Game Wardens can enforce state laws in all 77 counties.

They're also empowered to enforce federal wildlife laws.

According to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife website, Game Warden recruits "are instructed on topics you would expect, such as wildlife and fisheries laws; wildlife, waterfowl, and fisheries enforcement techniques; search and seizure; and firearms."

But there are others, including "snake ID, precision boating, wildlife forensics, blood- and man-tracking, defensive tactics, water survival, and trauma first aid."

And a Merritt graduate now gets to put that training to use in Jackson County.

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