OWEN CO. – Indiana Conservation Officer Caleb Hutchison, who serves Owen County, has been selected as the 2025 District 5 Officer of the Year.
“Across Indiana, conservation officers are on the front lines promoting public safety in the outdoors and protecting our state’s vital natural resources,” said Governor Mike Braun. “I congratulate the officers from each of the 10 districts who have earned this distinguished honor for their exceptional service on behalf of Hoosiers in 2025.”
Hutchison has served as a conservation officer for four years. Prior to that he served as a deputy with the Owen County Sheriff’s Department for seven years.
In addition to his normal duties as a field officer, Hutchison serves as a field training officer, sonar operator, and emergency vehicle operation instructor for the Department of Natural Resources Division of Law Enforcement.
District 5 includes Greene, Sullivan, Parke, Clay, Vigo, Vermillion, Putnam, and Owen counties.
The district award puts Hutchison 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 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.
