In addition to his patrol duties, Neel also serves as a passenger-for-hire inspector.
District 10 covers LaPorte, Jasper, Lake, Newton, Porter, Pulaski and Starke counties.
The district award puts Neel in the running for the Pitzer Award, which is given to the top overall conservation officer in the state of Indiana and selected from the 10 district award winners.
The Pitzer Award is named after Indiana Conservation Officer James D. Pitzer, who was fatally shot while investigating illegal hunting activity on Jan. 1, 1961 in Jay County.