Indianapolis, Indiana - September 2006
The Law Enforcement Division of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) performs its fair share of state law enforcement. However, as the oldest law enforcement agency and the only natural resource law enforcement agency in the state, the Division is active in a number of non law enforcement activities as well. These include:

• Educational programs for hunters, boaters, snowmobilers, and trappers
• River rescue and underwater search and recovery

Officers receive many types of specialty training in the areas of homicide investigation, hunting and watercraft accident investigation, wildlife forensics, interviewing techniques and computer training.

The Division's mission is to protect and encourage the wise use of all of our natural resources.

Not Park Rangers
Lieutenant Dave Windsor, a 20-year veteran of the Division, serves as the Training Administrator. According to Windsor, conservation officers are often misunderstood. "Many people look at us as park rangers. We're not. We are state law enforcement officers who are responsible for patrolling rural and urban areas, all state parks, fish and wildlife properties, state forests, reservoirs, natural lakes, rivers and streams," he states. Lt. Windsor emphasizes the diversity of the types of issues they face. "The problems we face change with the season. You have boating issues in the summer and hunting and poaching in the fall and winter. " Winter also brings out the snowmobilers who can create problems of their own.

Unique Cases Abound
One of Lt. Windsor's most memorable cases was the handling of a timber theft. Two brothers from Rocky Ripple had stolen more than 400 black walnut trees over a 3-year period and sold them for their veneer qualities. They were captured and convicted after a 2-year investigation. "Every officer could probably write a book on their unique experiences," says Windsor.

Becoming a Conservation Officer
There has been no shortage of conservation officer candidates. This year, the Division had 690 applicants. To become an officer, applicants go through a battery of testing. This includes personality and psychological testing, medical examinations, and fitness testing. Recruits are then put through 16 weeks of recruit school, 8 weeks of Field Training Officer training, and 15 weeks at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy for basic certification. Ultimately, 23 will be sworn in as new conservation officers this year.

Being Healthy Pays Off
The Division realized in the 80's that having healthy officers would help reduce sick leave and improve recovery time. Consequently, they allow 3 hours per week of on-duty exercise time. The Excise Police Officer's and Indiana Conservation Officer's Insurance Board approved 100% paid annual medical examinations through the officer's health insurance wellness program. So far this year, nearly 40 of their personnel and family members have taken advantage of this voluntary examination. In addition, for the first time this year, recruits have received health education as part of their training. Public Safety Medical Services has provided presentations on sports injury first aid and prevention, fitness, nutrition, and stress management topics. Lt. Windsor believes that law enforcement agencies can't afford not to offer some type of wellness program to their personnel. "Our recruits and officers know what's good for them, but many aren't sure how to get started," says Windsor. "For their own safety they have to be in good condition."

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© 2006 Public Safety Medical Services