09/25/2026
This is an extremely close and personal loss for staff at the ECO Center, and we deeply grieve for his wife, daughter, and family right now because their loss is unfathomable. The magnitude of Sgt. Ben Cunningham’s genuineness, loyalty, personability, kindness, fairness, leadership, friendship, and so much more cannot be fully understood with words. If you had the honor of meeting or knowing him, you just know. Please surround his family with thoughts and prayers.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is deeply saddened to announce the sudden passing of Law Enforcement Division Sergeant Ben Cunningham, a 27-year veteran of the Department. Sergeant Cunningham passed away following a possible medical episode while on duty in Rome, Georgia, and participating in a Law Enforcement Division physical fitness program.
His career with DNR began with the Wildlife Resources Division in August 1999. He transferred to DNR Law Enforcement in December 2006, was promoted to Corporal in 2017 and to Sergeant in March 2021. Cunningham was an outstanding Game Warden and supervisor in the DNR Law Enforcement Division, most recently serving as Sergeant in Region I in northwest Georgia, where he supervised Game Wardens responsible for Walker, Dade, Chattooga and Floyd counties.
We are grateful for his years of dedication to this Department and will remember the mark he left on our DNR family.
The full press release can be found through the link in the comments.
