Published: June 20, 2009 07:59 pm         

Conservation officers recognize officer, civilians for conduct and heroism

Indiana conservation officers recognized ICO Jay Baker, ICO Deland Szczepanski and civilians Mark Wallace, Thomas Weidner, Bill Poe and Matt Bochnowski at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources awards ceremony recently. These men were honored with the Meritorious Service Award for their extraordinary conduct and heroism in the rescue and recovery efforts of Jeffery Corning and Edward Sako at Turtle Creek Reservoir in Sullivan County during the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 3.

The day began at Turtle Creek Reservoir in Sullivan County with single-digit temperatures and prevailing winds in excess of 25 miles per hour. ICO Baker and ICO Szczepanski were off duty and were planning a morning of goose hunting on the lake. They recognized that the high waves along with the extreme cold temperatures did not provide for safe boating conditions on the lake. They were in the check station along with several other hunters waiting for conditions to improve.

A pair of hunters, Jeffery Corning and Ed Sako, chose to venture onto the lake in a small boat. Shortly afterward, calls for help were heard in the distance over the high winds.

Despite not being properly equipped for a water rescue in these conditions, the men immediately launched a boat and began a search.

Near the dam, they discovered a capsized vessel lodged against an ice shelf. One of the hunters, Jeffery Corning, was found clinging to the boat’s engine and suffering from hypothermia. He was transported without delay to the boat ramp for assessment and treatment by responding EMS personnel.

After safely delivering Corning, they set out onto the lake again in an attempt to locate Edward Sako. Sako was discovered a short time later floating facedown among the waves buoyed by the neoprene chest waders he wore.

The devotion to duty and commitment to the preservation of human life by these men, while facing significant personal risk, resulted in one life being saved and a swift resolution of the events for anxious family members of both victims.

III

Indiana Conservation Officer Lt. Kent Hutchins was chosen to receive the 2009 Director’s Leadership Award. Hutchins, of Parke County, is responsible for overseeing operations of District Five, which encompasses an eight-county area including Clay, Greene, Parke, Putnam, Owen, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo counties. These counties include more than 70,000 acres of state-owned public recreation areas and patrolled by 16 officers and a first sergeant. Hutchins was honored by the IDNR Division of Law Enforcement for his outstanding leadership abilities. He was chosen from a pool of more than 40 staff members.