Local Conservation Officer Named 2015 District 9 Officer Of The Year

Press release from Indiana Department of Natural Resources Officer Brad Reinholt. Photo provided. (Dearborn County, Ind.) - Indiana Conservation Officers of District 9 are proud to announce that Officer Brad Reinholt was named the 2015 District 9 Officer of the Year by his peers. Officer Reinholt is assigned to Dearborn County, one of eleven counties within District 9. Brad was born and raised in Commiskey, Indiana.  He graduated from Jennings County High School in 1993.  He enlisted in the United States Army shortly after and served from 1993-1996 and then the Indiana National Guard from 1996-2005.  He is a Purdue University graduate, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Forestry in 2003.  He worked as a forester for nine years in two different timber harvesting companies before becoming an Indiana Conservation Officer. Brad became an Indiana Conservation Officer in 2012, assigned to Fayette County.  After a short time, he transferred to Dearborn County, where he currently resides.  Brad is married to Kelsey Reinholt and they have three children together.  Brad enjoys hunting, fishing, his children’s sporting events and taxidermy work in his time-off.  Brad has been around Indiana Conservation Officers his entire life.  Brad’s father, Steve Reinholt, served 35 years as an Indiana Conservation Officer in Jennings County. Brad serves the state and his peers in several capacities other than the typical duties required of an Indiana Conservation Officer.  He is a Use of Force Instructor, which allows him to train both Conservation Officers and Officers within other departments.  He is also a Field Training Officer, inserting himself in the training of new Officers who are just beginning their careers in the field. The District 9 Officer of the Year award that Brad has been nominated for describes him well.  Any Officer within the district would tell you that he is an extremely hard-working and motivated Officer who will be of assistance to any one of them at a moment’s notice.  His likeable personality and demeanor is evident in nearly any situation! Being selected as the District 9 Officer of the Year will qualify Reinholt for the Pitzer award.  The James D. Pitzer Award is given annually to the top Officer in the State.  The award was created in memory of Officer Pitzer, who was killed in the line of duty while checking rabbit hunters on January 1, 1961. Well done and congratulations, Officer Reinholt!