The Conservation Officer of the Year award was presented at Thursday’s Michigan Natural Resources Commission meeting in Lansing.

Cpl. Mike Hearn, a DNR conservation officer from Kalkaska County, was recognized as the 2021 Shikar Safari Wildlife Officer of the Year.

The award is the highest state honor for conservation officers and is awarded annually.

Throughout his career, Hearn has done numerous things to earn this title, including safely locating two teens and taking into custody their armed kidnapper, when the juveniles were reported missing after not returning home from schooling 2018.

Hearn was also the 2016 Michigan Boating Officer of the Year.

He resides in Kalkaska County with his wife and three children.