Indiana Conservation Officer Josh Thomas, who serves Jefferson County, has been selected as the 2025 District 9 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."
Thomas, a former U.S. Marine, has served as a conservation officer for 13 years. He previously served in Fayette County before transferring to Jefferson County in 2015.
In addition to his normal duties as a field officer, Thomas serves as a field training officer, use of force instructor, division armorer, and honor guard member for the Department of Natural Resources Division of Law Enforcement.
District 9 includes Jennings, Rush, Fayette, Union, Franklin, Decatur, Ripley, Jefferson, Switzerland, Ohio, and Dearborn counties.
The district award puts Thomas 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.