Fort Wayne & NE Indiana News

The latest positive news written by residents and organizations in our community.
Government

Danny East named head of DNR Law Enforcement

Veteran law enforcement professional Danny East has been selected as the new director of DNR’s Division of Law Enforcement.

“Danny East brings a wealth of public service experience to our agency,” DNR director Cameron Clark said in announcing East’s appointment. “Along with that experience, his time spent in leadership positions with both the U.S. military and the Indiana State Police made him an especially attractive candidate.”

As the Law Enforcement division director, East will oversee 214 conservation officers and 40 civilian employees. His appointment is effective Oct. 28. He succeeds Scotty Wilson, who retired in July.

“I’ve always had great respect for Conservation Officers and the fact they had more authority than I did,” East said. “I like to call them the Swiss Army Knife of law enforcement.”

East has worked in law enforcement for 34 years. The majority of his career has been with the Indiana State Police, although he spent two years (1995-97) as interim superintendent of the Indiana State Excise Police.

He joined the State Police in 1979 and since then has been involved in field operations, training, criminal investigations, intelligence management and police administration.

East joined the State Police training section in 1983 as a sergeant and progressed to the rank of major. In 2005, he became deputy superintendent of field operations, a post he held until becoming deputy superintendent of investigations in 2009.

He currently serves as the superintendent’s liaison to the Indiana Intelligence Fusion Center that collects, analyzes and shares information and intelligence that helps other law enforcement agencies and private partners detect and respond to criminal and terrorist activity.

“The opportunity to remain in law enforcement exceeds my expectations,” East said. “I’ve had two jobs in my life; the Army and State Police, public service. That’s what I know. Being able to serve (State Police and State Excise) has given me the full array of law enforcement, from alcoholic beverage to motor vehicle and criminal laws of the state. Now I’m going over to conservation. Being at the top of caring over those entities is special.”

East was in the U.S. Army from 1971-79 and was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant following overseas assignment in Iran.

He has bachelor and master’s degrees in management science from Indiana Wesleyan and was an adjunct faculty member at the university from 1995-2005.