Although Indiana Conservation Officers cited the holder of a permit to kill mute swans in the Barbee Chain of Lakes, ICO Nick Vander Molen said the permit is still valid.

Barbee property owners, upset with what they believe was the brutal killing of mute swans on Sechrist Lake last month, attended a Saturday morning meeting of the Barbee Lakes Property Owners Association where, for more than an hour, two conservation officers fielded questions and heard concerns.

Cpl. John Engle said the investigation determined there were three men on the pontoon and involved in the killings on March 30 and that a violation did occur. That violation, however, does not appear to be with the method of how the swans were taken. Sechrist Lake couple Jack and Rhonda Doyle say they witnessed one of the men beating a swan to death with a boat oar.

One of the men identified by the DNR as being on that pontoon was George Hiatt. Hiatt is named as the only  assistant on the permit which clearly requires him to be “under the direct and on-site supervision” of the permit holder, who is Chuck Brinkman. (See permit to the left). Cpl. Engle noted Brinkman was not present when the swans were taken and therefore he was cited for that violation.

The other two men, who have been identified, are out of county residents and do not own property on the Barbee chain.

During Saturday’s meeting, Cpl. Engle said he believed Brinkman’s permit was no longer valid due to the violation, but could not confirm that. This morning, Vander Molen contacted the DNR Fish & Wildlife division which confirmed the permit is, in fact, still valid.

The investigation into the matter has still not been completed.

See related stories:
BLPOA, DNR Discuss Swan Killings
DNR Swan Killing Investigation Still Incomplete
Brutal Swan Killings Spark Public Outrage
DNR Protocol On Swan Killings Uncertain
DNR: ‘No Violations’ In Swan Killings
DNR: Swan Killings Investigation Continues