Indiana Conservation Officer named the 2023 NASBLA Northern Region Officer of the Year
Conservation Officer Jarred Coffing, of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Law Enforcement Division, has been named the 2023 NASBLA Northern Region Officer of the Year.
Since day one of his service, Officer Coffing has displayed a steadfast passion for boating law enforcement, extending his vigilant patrols on our waterways throughout all four seasons of the year. His primary focus has consistently been to remove impaired operators from the water, striving to effectively reduce the number of impaired and reckless individuals endangering themselves and others.
During the 2022 boating season, Officer Coffing arrested five impaired boat operators for boating while intoxicated. In the same period, he arrested 11 impaired operators of motor vehicles, enabling him to maintain his proficiency in field sobriety. Officer Coffing's ongoing dedication to apprehending impaired operators throughout the year has honed his expertise in court procedures, including blood draw search warrants, report writing, court paperwork, and arrest protocols. This proficiency has allowed him to dedicate more time to boat patrols.
In 2022 alone, Officer Coffing spent over 200 hours conducting boat patrols, focusing his efforts on ensuring the safety of Lake Freeman, Lake Shafer, the Tippecanoe River, and the Wabash River. Lake Freeman and Lake Shafer, which are formed by hydroelectric dams on the Tippecanoe River, are renowned tourist destinations in the region and often encounter increased congestion during the summer due to rental boats and recreational boaters. Officer Coffing's vigilance is essential in mitigating the hazardous conditions arising from the narrow and crowded waterways.
Officer Coffing's dedication extends beyond law enforcement as he invested 272 hours in instructing various boating-related courses. He assisted in instructing a NASBLA Basic Crew Member course at Lake Monroe, consistently demonstrating his thoroughness in educating both new and seasoned boat operators. Officer Coffing also organized a body recovery class for a Crime Scene Investigator school in Boone County, collaborating with numerous local agencies to address methods of recovering bodies from waterways and submerged vehicles. Additionally, Officer Coffing has proven his exceptional investigative skills in various drowning investigations across Indiana.
Officer Coffing's unwavering commitment to enhancing the safety of Indiana waterways is commendable. His relentless efforts undeniably contribute to the reduction of boat incidents, impaired operators, and drownings. Congratulations, Conservation Officer Jarred Coffing!
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First presented in 2000, the Marvin “Butch” Potts Memorial Award, known as the Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award, is presented annually to the boating law enforcement officer who has made outstanding contributions to the field of boating law enforcement. The award program consists of three levels: state, regional and national.
The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is a national nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization that works to develop public policy for recreational boating safety. NASBLA represents the recreational boating authorities of all 50 states and the U.S. territories. We offer a variety of resources, including training, model acts, education standards, publications and more. Through a national network of thousands of professional educators, law enforcement officers and volunteers, we affect the lives of nearly 85 million American boaters.