DNR recognizes conservation officers of the year in local area

Indiana’s Department of Natural Resources is recognizing the conservation officers of the year for the districts that cover our area.

The department announced today that Officer Matthew Williams is the conservation officer of the year for District 6 and Officer Josh Thomas has been chosen for District 9.

District 6 includes Bartholomew, Brown, Johnson and Shelby counties among its 9 counties, while District 9 includes Decatur and Jennings among its 10 counties.

Thomas serves in Jefferson County. He is a former U.S. Marine and has been a conservation officer for 13 years.

Williams has served as a conservation officer for four years, and is assigned to Monroe County.

The district awards puts both officers in the running for the Pitzer Award, which is the top overall conservation officer in the state, chosen from the 10 district winners.

The award is named after Conservation Officer James D. Pitzer, who was fatally shot while investigating illegal hunting activity on Jan. 2, 1961, in Jay County.