Pittsfield Officer Named IDNR Officer of the Year

Conservation Police Officer Austin Priest earned the honor for a second consecutive year after a rescue and a heavy enforcement record.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in National Parks

Pittsfield Officer Named IDNR Officer of the Year

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources named Conservation Police Officer Austin Priest its Officer of the Year for the second year in a row. The agency recognized his bravery, compassion and distinguished service during the 2025 calendar year.

Why it matters

The award highlights the work of conservation police who enforce wildlife, boating and related laws across Illinois. Priest's recognition reflects both enforcement volume and a rescue that helped a survivor reach emergency care.

Priest's 2025 record includes 49 field reports, 100 citations and 144 warnings. The honor follows his recognition for the previous year, and the source does not detail the full scope of the rescue's aftermath.

The players

Illinois Department of Natural Resources

The state agency that oversees conservation law enforcement, wildlife management and natural resource programs across Illinois.

Austin Priest

A Conservation Police Officer based in Pittsfield who serves in the District 9 Central Zone and patrols Illinois waterways.

The details

Priest was called out to a reported plane crash while off-duty, located the downed aircraft and a survivor, and talked with the survivor to keep her awake and discourage movement that could worsen injuries. He was then involved in getting her to emergency medical care.

December 2019: Priest was hired by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
2023: Priest returned to Pike County after three years in the Quad Cities.
2025 calendar year: The conduct period recognized in the officer honors.
October 2026: The IDNR announced the honorees.

Seasonal Patterns

Priest's award recognizes enforcement on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, where he is the only agency responsible for boating enforcement outside the Chicagoland area. The honor comes from the same state program that recognizes officers each year for conduct during the prior calendar year.

Travelers using Illinois rivers for boating and recreation are subject to enforcement by conservation police, including on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. Knowing that boating laws are actively enforced on these waterways can help visitors plan safe trips.

The takeaway

Recognition of officers like Priest reflects the wide range of duties conservation police perform, from rescue to waterway enforcement. Readers planning outdoor trips in Illinois can benefit from knowing these officers are active on state waters.