Ground broken for new headquarters for Indiana DNR Law Enforcement, District 6

Gov. Mike Braun joined the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and other state leaders to break ground on the new headquarters for DNR Law Enforcement District 6.

The new headquarters will support Indiana Conservation Officers’ work across nine counties in central Indiana. 

“Indiana Conservation Officers are the champions of safety in the outdoors and protectors of our natural resources, and it’s important that we support them with the resources they need to do their job,” said Gov. Braun. “Through collaboration across agencies, we’re able to build this new law enforcement headquarters at a significant cost savings, which is a win for both law enforcement and taxpayers.” 

Indiana DNR Law Enforcement is the state’s oldest state law enforcement agency, with a force of more than 200 conservation officers who promote safety in the outdoors and uphold conservation laws across Indiana. District 6 officers serve Bartholomew, Brown, Johnson, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Monroe, Morgan, and Shelby counties, with officers trained in specialties including scuba diving, sonar search, K-9 units, airboat operators, and swift water rescue. 

“Statewide, Indiana Conservation Officers work alongside local law enforcement partners on a wide range of cases and provide important expertise in operations like outdoor recreation accidents and search and rescue,” said Alan Morrison, DNR director. “Supporting this work that’s important to our state’s safety will remain a top priority.” 

The new headquarters will support 23 field conservation officers and staff. It will provide evidence storing capabilities, training rooms, and storage for district equipment. It will also be equipped with audio-visual and technology resources that officers use in their daily operations. The new headquarters will replace trailers that have served as district headquarters since 2016. 

The new headquarters facility was designed by the Indiana Department of Administration and will be constructed for $800,000 in cooperation with Indiana Department of Correction work crews, providing a savings to taxpayers on both architectural and construction costs.

“The District 6 headquarters is more than a building—it’s a permanent, thoughtfully designed workspace that gives officers the secure, efficient environment they need to serve Hoosiers for years to come,” said Brandon Clifton, Indiana Department of Administration commissioner.