Eight new Indiana Conservation Officers officially joined the DNR Division of Law Enforcement during graduation ceremonies at the Indiana Government Center South.

ICO Cpl. Erick Bolt, recipient of the Pitzer Award earlier this year as Conservation Officer of the Year, administered the oath of office to the recruits.

The new officers represent the 32nd recruit class of Indiana Conservation Officers, the oldest law enforcement agency in the state. The officers, their hometowns, and assignment locations (by county in parentheses) are:

– Kyle L. Buchanan, Greencastle (LaGrange)
– Travis L. Campbell, Rockwell, N.C. (Monroe)
– Kendrick E. Fuhrman, Shoals (Blackford)
– Andrew Harmon, Craigville (Wells)
– Timothy R. Kaiser, Elnora (Delaware)
– Bradley S. Reinholt, Seymour (Fayette)
– Bradley J. Robins, Kokomo, (Tipton)
– Nicholas R. Vander Molen, Goshen (Kosciusko)

The new officers underwent five weeks of basic training followed by 12 weeks of on-the-job field training with a veteran Conservation Officer. Their training continues with a 15-week course at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, after which they will report to their assignments to complete a one-year probationary period.

The 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, including boater, hunter, snowmobile, and trapper education. River rescue, cave rescue, underwater search and recovery, and K-9 teams are specialty response units available statewide whenever needed.