Indianapolis, IN — The DNR Division of Law Enforcement held graduation ceremonies this week at the Indiana Government Center South in Indianapolis. Twenty-five new Indiana Conservation Officers officially joined the division during the event.
The new officers represent the 39th recruit class of conservation officers, the oldest state law enforcement agency in Indiana.
Three new officers have been assigned to Southeastern Indiana.
Jarrett Batliner and Austin Ely will patrol Ripley County, while Austin Walsh will enforce state laws in Decatur County.
The new officers completed six weeks of recruit training followed by a 15-week basic law enforcement academy. Upon completion of the academy, officers finished additional specialized training before doing 90 shifts of field training.
The Indiana DNR employs 214 conservation officers who, in addition to enforcing state laws, are often called upon to help during emergencies and natural disasters.
They also engage in non-law enforcement activities such as outdoor instructional programs that include boaters, hunters, snowmobiles, and trapper education.
DNR Law Enforcement’s river rescue, cave rescue, underwater search and recovery, and K-9 teams are specialty response units available statewide whenever needed.
