Tuesday, May 21, 2013

By Nelson Sigelman
Published: July 2, 2009

Martha's Vineyard is a community that values the outdoors. But for many months the Island has been without the full-time services of a member of the Massachusetts Environmental Police, the agency responsible for enforcing the laws governing fishing, hunting, and boating. That changed this week.

Sgt. Matt Bass began work Monday. Photo by Susan Safford

Sergeant Matt Bass began work on Monday. As the Island's newest environmental police officer (EPO), his beat includes the Island's fields and woodlands as well as its surrounding waters.

Once known as game wardens with responsibility for state hunting and fishing regulations, the EPO portfolio has expanded to include commercial fishing regulations, boating safety rules, all terrain vehicles (ATVs) and environmental protection.

The last full-time EPO specifically assigned to the Vineyard was Environmental Police Sgt. Pat Grady, who for several years commuted from his home on the Cape. That coverage ended last October when the Massachusetts Office of Law Enforcement shifted staff to accommodate budget cuts and personnel changes. As a result, environmental police were assigned to Martha's Vineyard on a rotation basis.

Sergeant Matt Bass, 39, lives in Bourne with his wife and three children, aged 10, 7, and 3. But he will have no trouble finding his way around his new post.

For now he will commute, but Mr. Bass can rely on an extended family network when his job requires night work. His is married to the former Bridget Penicaud, a graduate of Martha's Vineyard Regional High School and the oldest of Dominique and Margaret Penicaud of Vineyard Haven's seven children. Ms. Bass is an occupational therapist in the Bourne school system

Mr. Bass grew up in New Hampshire but enjoyed summer holidays at his family's seasonal house on Chappaquiddick. While attending the University of New Hampshire where he studied marine biology he worked for The Trustees of Reservations, the conservation group that manages much of the Chappy beachfront. He was a beach ranger, a job he continued to hold full-time after graduation.

Working for The Trustees gave him an interest in environmental law enforcement. He next moved to a law enforcement job with the U.S. Park Service at the Cape Cod National Seashore. In 2001 he joined the Mass Environmental Police.

When the Vineyard slot was due to be filled Mr. Bass put his name in for the job. "Some other people didn't want it," he said, "and I jumped at it the first chance I got."

Mr. Bass said what he enjoys most about his job is the opportunity to be outdoors and the variety of his responsibilities that take him into the woods, out on the water, and up in the air with the Coast Guard.

Sergeant Matt Bass, the Island's newest environmental police officer, began patrolling the Vineyard this week. Photo by Susan Safford

It is important that people who play by the rules, whether they be commercial or recreational fishermen, know that the rules are being enforced, Mr. Bass said. Most people want to do things the right way and play fair, he added.

Chris Kennedy, the Trustees regional superintendent, has known Mr. Bass for many years. He described Mr. Bass as a "people-person" and said he could not be happier.

"Matt Bass was an outstanding ranger when he worked for TTOR," Mr. Kennedy said. "He was not heavy-handed and was always very fair in enforcing the regulations and he has not changed one bit. I am thrilled."

With the Vineyard summer season in full swing, Mr. Bass expects to focus on boating safety and marine fisheries issues at first. Later he will transition into hunting issues. He said people are always welcome to call him with questions about regulations.

"Depending on what people are doing, whether it is lobstering or duck hunting, the regulations are not always crystal clear or intuitive," Mr. Bass said. "If people are wondering if they can do something it is always better to ask. I will certainly give them the information that they need or point them in the right direction."

Mr. Bass said he used to like to fish and hunt, but with three children and job responsibilities that keep him outdoors there is rarely time to do either.

Mr. Bass can be reached by calling the Island communications center at 911 or the 24-hour Environmental Police dispatch number, 1-800-632-8075.