Ohio's dedication to wildlife conservation and law enforcement was highlighted when some of the state's finest were recently honored at a North American level. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife has shared good news that Wildlife Investigator Kirk Kiefer bagged the 2025 Officer of the Year award, and his colleague, State Wildlife Officer Jason Keller, alongside K-9 Officer Scout, fetched the Loyal Partner Award handed out by the North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association (NAWEOA).
Investigator Kiefer's acknowledgment as NAWEOA Officer of the Year, the first for an Ohio wildlife officer, comes after serving with integrity and expertise for over two decades. According to ODNR, his extensive experience includes roles as a field training officer in diverse fields like hunting incident investigations and trapping enforcement. Kiefer is recognized for his competence, knowledge, and capabilities in the field and promotion of wildlife law enforcement.
Meanwhile, the partnership between Officer Keller and K-9 Officer Scout earned them the Loyal Partner Award. Beginning his career in Lake County and transferring to Warren County, Keller has contributed 16 years to the ODNR. The dynamic duo, having served together since 2018, are core members of the Division of Wildlife’s Search, Rescue, and Tracking Team.
