A ceremony was held today to remember fallen Indiana Conservation Officers and recognize current officers for their excellence while serving the state and its citizens.
The seven members of the Department of Natural Resources Division of Law Enforcement who have died in the line of duty since its inception in 1911 were honored in the Indiana Government Center auditorium in Indianapolis. Those officers, listed with their end of watch date, are Sgt. Ed Bollman, Feb. 13, 2018; F/Sgt. Karl E. Kelley, April 17, 1998; Officer Thomas Deniston, Oct. 16, 1990; Officer James D. Pitzer, Jan. 2, 1961; Officer Robert S. Perkins, May 27, 1958; Warden William J. Nattkemper, April 27, 1926; and Warden William J. Peare, April 27, 1926.
Indiana conservation officers are law enforcement officers for the DNR, and the DNR Division of Law Enforcement is the oldest Indiana state law enforcement agency. A total of 214 conservation officers serve the state.
After the memorial ceremony, the division recognized current individual officers for their outstanding service.
District 6 Officer Nick Wilson, assigned to Hendricks County, was selected as the James D. Pitzer Indiana Conservation Officer of the Year. The award recognizes Wilson as the top officer of 2022, as selected from the 10 district officer of the year recipients.
The Pitzer award is named for an officer who was killed in the line of duty in Jay County. The recipient demonstrates professional ethics, attitude, and service to the public while demonstrating dedication to the principles of the conservation of natural resources and the enforcement of laws affecting the department. The officer must also demonstrate the ability to provide a positive influence, develop camaraderie within the ranks, and gain the confidence and respect of fellow officers.
Sgt. Pete Slavin received the Director’s Leadership Award for his work overseeing officers in operational district 5 in the western portion of the state and assisting with field training new officers.
District 3 Officer Jarred Coffing was recognized by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) as the state’s Boating Enforcement Officer of the Year and for his leadership in boating education.
District 2 Officer Nathan Cooper was presented with the 2022 Waterfowl Protection Officer of the Year award for his enforcement of waterfowl regulations and his related performance in public education and community interaction.
Conservation Officer Hunter Law of district 1 was honored with a Life Saving Award for his exceptional actions that resulted in the saving of a life.
Entries on the Activity Log at the Greene County Sheriff’s Department included response to 82 calls and incidents from Friday, April 4-Sunday, April 6, 2025, including:
Entries on the Activity Log at the Greene County Sheriff’s Department included response to 141 calls and incidents from Monday, March 31-Friday, April 4, 2025, including:
Richard D. "Ricky" Hancock, 70, of Buchanan, MI formerly of Jasonville, IN passed away at 1:28 p.m. Sunday, April 6, 2025 in Corewell Health Lakeland Hospital in Niles, MI.
Kenneth Ray Russell, known as Kenny, passed away on Monday, April 7, 2025 at the Veteran''s Hospital in Indianapolis, at the age 74. He was born in Linton on October 12, 1950, the son of Eleanor (Johnson) Russell and Rollie Russell.
Florence H Clayton, age 89, of Bloomington, passed away peacefully at 2:33 am on Monday, April 7, 2025, at Bell Trace Health and Living Center. She was born on August 16, 1935, the daughter of George & Helena (Bolton) Clayton.
Larry A. Poe, 84, of Bloomington, Indiana, formerly of Linton, Indiana, passed away, on Sunday, April 6, 2025 at Hearthstone Health Campus in Bloomington. He was born on January 9, 1941 in Brookville, Pennsylvania to Joe L. and Anita June (Heaton) Poe. Larry married the love of his life, Mary Arlene (Schmitt) Poe on April 28, 1961.
Bruce Button, age 70, of Cincinnati, OH and Worthington, passed away at 8:40 am on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at I.U. Hospice House in Bloomington. He was born in Troy, NY on September 28, 1954, the son of Dale & Ann (Colquhoun) Button.
Nellie Yvonne ‘Connie’ Dayhoff, 88, of Linton, Indiana, went to Heaven with her family by her side, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at Glenburn Senior Living in Linton. She was born on September 20, 1936 in Linton to Clifford William and Eva Mae (Blough) Lynch. Connie married the love of her life, John Dayhoff, Jr. on June 2, 1955.
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Indiana Conservation Officers hold memorial & awards ceremony
/ Posted by StaffA ceremony was held today to remember fallen Indiana Conservation Officers and recognize current officers for their excellence while serving the state and its citizens.
The seven members of the Department of Natural Resources Division of Law Enforcement who have died in the line of duty since its inception in 1911 were honored in the Indiana Government Center auditorium in Indianapolis. Those officers, listed with their end of watch date, are Sgt. Ed Bollman, Feb. 13, 2018; F/Sgt. Karl E. Kelley, April 17, 1998; Officer Thomas Deniston, Oct. 16, 1990; Officer James D. Pitzer, Jan. 2, 1961; Officer Robert S. Perkins, May 27, 1958; Warden William J. Nattkemper, April 27, 1926; and Warden William J. Peare, April 27, 1926.
Indiana conservation officers are law enforcement officers for the DNR, and the DNR Division of Law Enforcement is the oldest Indiana state law enforcement agency. A total of 214 conservation officers serve the state.
After the memorial ceremony, the division recognized current individual officers for their outstanding service.
District 6 Officer Nick Wilson, assigned to Hendricks County, was selected as the James D. Pitzer Indiana Conservation Officer of the Year. The award recognizes Wilson as the top officer of 2022, as selected from the 10 district officer of the year recipients.
The Pitzer award is named for an officer who was killed in the line of duty in Jay County. The recipient demonstrates professional ethics, attitude, and service to the public while demonstrating dedication to the principles of the conservation of natural resources and the enforcement of laws affecting the department. The officer must also demonstrate the ability to provide a positive influence, develop camaraderie within the ranks, and gain the confidence and respect of fellow officers.
Sgt. Pete Slavin received the Director’s Leadership Award for his work overseeing officers in operational district 5 in the western portion of the state and assisting with field training new officers.
District 3 Officer Jarred Coffing was recognized by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) as the state’s Boating Enforcement Officer of the Year and for his leadership in boating education.
District 2 Officer Nathan Cooper was presented with the 2022 Waterfowl Protection Officer of the Year award for his enforcement of waterfowl regulations and his related performance in public education and community interaction.
Conservation Officer Hunter Law of district 1 was honored with a Life Saving Award for his exceptional actions that resulted in the saving of a life.
Learn more about DNR Law Enforcement at on dnr.IN.gov/lawenfor.
GreeneStreets
GreeneStreets covers crime news, court news, jail logs, obituaries and sometimes other news from Greene County, Indiana.
Latest Jail Logs
New entries on the morning Jail Log at the Greene County Sheriff’s Department on Friday, April 11, 2025:
New entries on the morning Jail Log at the Greene County Sheriff’s Department on Thursday, April 10, 2025:
New entries on the morning Jail Log at the Greene County Sheriff’s Department on Wednesday, April 9, 2025:
Latest Activity Logs
Entries on the Activity Log at the Greene County Sheriff’s Department included response to 82 calls and incidents from Friday, April 4-Sunday, April 6, 2025, including:
Entries on the Activity Log at the Greene County Sheriff’s Department included response to 141 calls and incidents from Monday, March 31-Friday, April 4, 2025, including:
Court News & Records
List of all speeding tickets and other infractions filed in Greene Superior Court March 24-April 4, 2025:
List of all civil and small claims cases filed in Greene Circuit and Superior Court, March 24-April 4, 2025:
List of all criminal cases filed in Greene Circuit and Superior Courts, March 24-April 4, 2025:
List of all speeding tickets and other infractions filed in Greene Superior Court March 17-March 21, 2025:
Latest Obituaries
John O’Bannon, 81, of Owensburg, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in the presence of family.
Richard D. "Ricky" Hancock, 70, of Buchanan, MI formerly of Jasonville, IN passed away at 1:28 p.m. Sunday, April 6, 2025 in Corewell Health Lakeland Hospital in Niles, MI.
Jerry Lee Hodges, 79, of Worthington passed away Monday April 7, 2025 at the IU Health Hospice House in Bloomington.
Edith Russell Blake, 95 of Linton, IN passed away Wednesday April 9, 2025 at Glenburn Senior Living in Linton, IN.
Daniel D. Evol, 72, of Jasonville, IN passed away at 10:15 pm Thursday, January 16, 2025 in Terre Haute Regional Hospital at Terre Haute, IN.
Kenneth Ray Russell, known as Kenny, passed away on Monday, April 7, 2025 at the Veteran''s Hospital in Indianapolis, at the age 74. He was born in Linton on October 12, 1950, the son of Eleanor (Johnson) Russell and Rollie Russell.
Florence H Clayton, age 89, of Bloomington, passed away peacefully at 2:33 am on Monday, April 7, 2025, at Bell Trace Health and Living Center. She was born on August 16, 1935, the daughter of George & Helena (Bolton) Clayton.
Larry A. Poe, 84, of Bloomington, Indiana, formerly of Linton, Indiana, passed away, on Sunday, April 6, 2025 at Hearthstone Health Campus in Bloomington. He was born on January 9, 1941 in Brookville, Pennsylvania to Joe L. and Anita June (Heaton) Poe. Larry married the love of his life, Mary Arlene (Schmitt) Poe on April 28, 1961.
Bruce Button, age 70, of Cincinnati, OH and Worthington, passed away at 8:40 am on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at I.U. Hospice House in Bloomington. He was born in Troy, NY on September 28, 1954, the son of Dale & Ann (Colquhoun) Button.
Nellie Yvonne ‘Connie’ Dayhoff, 88, of Linton, Indiana, went to Heaven with her family by her side, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at Glenburn Senior Living in Linton. She was born on September 20, 1936 in Linton to Clifford William and Eva Mae (Blough) Lynch. Connie married the love of her life, John Dayhoff, Jr. on June 2, 1955.
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