SYRACUSE - A Mentone man has been named the Syracuse Law Enforcement District's Officer of the Year.
Indiana Conservation Officer Jon Cook earned the honor, which was voted on by his fellow officers.
Cook has been a conservation officer in Kosciusko County since 2006, and he was recognized by the Warsaw Morning Optimist Club as the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for 2009.
Cook is a defensive tactics instructor and is part of the fundraising committee for Indiana's Turn In A Poacher program. He also was active with the 2009 Indiana Conservation Officer recruit training, instructing them in personal watercraft training, waterfowl identification and defensive tactics.
In addition, Cook serves as the Boy's Week director and Girl's Week co-director of the Camp Mollenhour Conservation Camp near Silver Lake.
Cook and his wife, Jennifer, have two sons, Broderic, 16, and Hunter, 8.
Cook and conservation officers from nine other Indiana law enforcement districts are eligible for the Pitzer Outstanding Officer of the Year Award for 2009. The award is presented in remembrance of Conservation Officer James D. Pitzer, who was killed in the line of duty on Jan. 2, 1961, in Jay County. Pitzer began his service with the Department of Conservation in 1939 and served for 22 years.
