James D. Pitzer Award
2008 James D. Pitzer Award winner
Colonel Michael Crider, the director of the Law Enforcement Division of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, has announced that Officer Eric Doane is the recipient of the Law Enforcement Division’s 2008 Pitzer Award for 2007. The award was presented to Officer Doane in a ceremony at the Indiana Government Center on May 28th.
The Law Enforcement Division consists of ten districts statewide along with the Investigation Section. Every year, each district and section selects a district “Officer of the Year” by vote of their fellow officers. Each officer chosen is then eligible for the state “Officer of the Year” to be selected by the director of the Law Enforcement Division and the director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resoures.P>
The officer chosen will then receive the “Pitzer Award”. This award was named after Indiana Conservation Officer James D. Pitzer who was shot and killed in the line of duty.
Officer Doane, a native of Martin County, after graduating from Shoals High School, attended Vincennes University and received an associate’s degree in Conservation Law in 1990. He became a Conservation Officer in 1992. His initial assignment was Union County, but was re-assigned to Martin County and has been there for the last 10 years. He is part of Operational District 7 which includes 10 counties in southwest Indiana.
Beyond his usual field duties, Officer Doane is on the dive team, the cave rescue team, and is a Defensive Tactics Instructor. He is also involved with 4-H, the National Archery in the Schools program, and was also named Hunter Education Instructor of the Year for 2007 by the Indiana Hunter’s Education Association.
“Eric is certainly an exemplary and worthy recipient of this award,” said District 7 First Sgt. Tom Jahn. “He has a passion to serve the public and protect the natural resources of this state.”
Officer Doane was also selected district officer of the year in 1995 and 2005. He resides with his wife Tish and their three children Michaela, Tanner, and Faith in Martin County.
