Two Indiana Department of Natural Resources conservation officers have been honored for lifesaving actions. Officers Jon Boyd and Dustin Whitehead received recognition from the National Association of Boating Law Administrators for their rescue of seven people following a boating incident July 25 on Lake Wawasee. If it weren’t for the actions of these officers this incident could have ended tragically, said the Indiana Department of Natural Resources in announcing the awards. Indiana Conservation executive staff members presented the three officers with the commendations and gave them a standing ovation in Indianapolis. "I am very proud of these officers and their efforts to assist our citizens in their time of need,” said Danny L. East, director IDNR Law Enforcement, in the announcement. Executive staff presented both of them with their awards and gave them a standing ovation. Kosciusko County Lake Patrol officer Ken Troutman, also awarded for his involvement in the rescue, was unable to attend. Seven people were rescued after the boat sank. The driver of the boat was arrested after investigators found him to be intoxicated at nearly three times the legal limit of .08. The lake was under an idle speed restriction at the time of the incident, and DNR officers noticed the boat speeding across the lake. The boat was sitting low in the water and when the lake patrol officer attempted to stop the boat, the driver abruptly stopped, causing water to rush over the bow. When the driver tried to accelerate, more water came into the boat, which capsized and quickly sank, according to a DNR press release at the time of the incident. Only one of the seven people on board was wearing a life vest as the officers initiated rescue procedures, the DNR said.
