Indiana Conservation Officer named as 2016 PELA Leader Award recipient

Indiana Conservation Officer Captain Zach Mathews has been selected by the Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) as the 2016 Police Executive Leadership Academy (PELA) Leader’s Leader Award.

Mathews completed the PELA Academy in 2016 and received accolades from PELA facilitator, Dr. Neil Moore, for his classroom contributions and leadership perspectives.  “Captain Mathews is one of the superior police leaders in Indiana at this time and a great role model for any police agency”, said Dr. Moore.  “Capt. Mathews is exploring leadership principles from such diverse places as the Disney Corporation, Chick-fil-A and several other private sector organizations with an eye toward applying those principles in a policing environment.”

Captain Mathews is a native of Columbus Indiana.  He was hired as an Indiana Conservation Officer in 1998 and was assigned to Bartholomew County.  Mathews was promoted to Detective Sergeant in 2003.  He was promoted to Captain of Investigations in 2005 and was placed in command of Training Section in 2011.

Mathews will be presented with the award at the PELA graduation and Awards Ceremony on January 25, 2017 at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Indianapolis.

“It is an honor for Indiana Conservation Officers and “THE” DNR Law Enforcement Division to receive recognition for the police leadership role our officers and staff have achieved”, said Danny L. East, DNR Law Enforcement Division Director.  “Captain Mathews is an outstanding example to his colleagues and to police agencies across the state.”