INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Conservation Officer Zach Walker has been selected as the 2022 District 9 Officer of the year. District 9 includes Jennings County, in which Walker has been a conservation officer since 2009.
In addition to being a field officer, Walker serves as a K-9 handler, field training officer, airboat operator, boat accident investigator, breath test operator, and cave rescue team member. He has also played an essential role in the Karl E. Kelly Camp since 2019.
The district award puts Walker in the running for the Pitzer Award, which is presented to the top overall conservation officer in the state and is selected from the 10 district award winners.
The Pitzer 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.