Indiana Conservation Officers gathered at the Indiana Government Center for a memorial and awards ceremony honoring fallen officers and recognizing outstanding service. The event began with a tribute to the seven conservation officers who have died in the line of duty since 1911. Following the memorial, several officers and staff were honored for exceptional achievements. Officer Joe Haywood of Dubois County was named the James D. Pitzer Indiana Conservation Officer of the Year, recognizing him as the top officer statewide for 2024. Additional honors went to officers for excellence in boating safety, wildlife protection, and lifesaving efforts, as well as to outstanding civilian staff and dispatchers. The DNR Division of Law Enforcement, Indiana’s oldest law enforcement agency, currently employs 214 conservation officers.
