Indiana Department of Natural Resources is hiring conservation officers

MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- The Department of Natural Resources wants to hire around 30 conservation officers throughout the state. The DNR wants to put a large number of them in Michiana.

"All of our officers were working hard this weekend and overtime to make sure we are covering all those lakes and responding to all the calls that the public has," said Conservation Officer Jonathon Boyd.

Conservation officers did their part this weekend, patrolling lakes and making sure holiday celebrations were safe.  But with the crews stretched so thin, the officers they do have are busy, especially on weekends.

Over the holiday, they made dozens of arrests while patrolling the lakes, and performed a search and rescue at Culver Public Beach.

On Friday, family members reported 28 year old Jose Cruz Lizcano-Fernandez missing after discovering his shoes by the shoreline.

His body was recovered about 30 minutes later.

 “It’s a rewarding fact that we can bring closure to those individuals who lose a loved one or try to be there so that we can prevent that from happening in the first place," says Boyd.

But they know that the summer is far from over.

"We are still getting the job done, so by far, so me saying we so shorthanded we can’t get the job done that’s too far to go. We are getting the job done, but we could definitely use the help," says Boyd.

That's why they're hiring more officers.  

Click here for more information on becoming a conservation officer.