The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Division of Law Enforcement enforces the 71 chapters of New York State’s Environmental Conservation Law (ECL), protecting fish and wildlife and preserving environmental quality across New York. In 1880, the first eight Game Protectors proudly began serving to protect the natural resources and people of New York State.

In 2025, DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement fielded an estimated 101,169 calls. Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and Investigators across the state responded to more than 35,575 complaints and worked on cases that resulted in 15,673 tickets or arrests for violations ranging from deer poaching to solid waste dumping, illegal mining, the illegal pet trade, and excessive emissions violations.

“DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and Investigators enforce New York’s Environmental Conservation Law to ensure the protection of public safety and our vast natural resources, including air, water, wildlife, and New York’s one-of-a-kind outdoor spaces,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “This highly specialized and rewarding work is instrumental to upholding our stringent laws and making the great outdoors safe and enjoyable for everyone.”

Commercial Motor Vehicle Compliance – Suffolk County

On June 4, ECOs Della Rocco and DeVito participated in a multi-agency detail focused on commercial vehicle compliance. Inspectors observed and addressed several offenses during the detail related to solid waste, air quality, vehicle and traffic law, and pesticides. The ECOs issued 17 tickets for Environmental Conservation Law violations, returnable to Southampton Town Justice Court. The Suffolk County Police Department, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, Southampton Police Department, Port Washington Police Department, New York State Troopers, and New York State Department of Transportation Inspectors also participated in the enforcement detail which was organized by the Suffolk County Police Motor Carrier Division.

ECO Della Rocco inspects a truckload of dirt to investigate potential solid waste violations in Suffolk County (photo attached)

Opossum Rescue – Suffolk County

On June 11, ECO Anderson responded to a request from the Suffolk County Police Department for assistance with an injured opossum in Center Moriches. Officer Anderson arrived at the location and determined the female opossum was deceased but observed movement from six baby opossums that were still alive in her pouch. Officer Anderson transported the animals to the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center in Hampton Bays where the babies were successfully removed from the pouch and placed in an incubator. Baby opossums, also known as “joeys,” are only the size of a jellybean at birth and remain in the mother’s pouch for approximately seven weeks before they move to ride on the mother’s back. DEC checked in with the wildlife rescue center and learned the opossums are still at the facility, doing well, and should be ready for release in approximately two months. Residents are encouraged to contact a local wildlife rehabilitator if they encounter injured wildlife.

Baby opossums held at wildlife rescue center in Hampton Bays, Suffolk County (photo attached)

Eagle Rescue and Release – Montgomery County

On June 17, ECOs Willson and Valenty, and Trish Marky of North Country Wildcare in Saratoga Springs released a Bald Eagle found injured on the side of the New York State Thruway approximately a month earlier.

On May 7, ECO Willson responded to a request for assistance at mile marker 203 of the Thruway in Montgomery County from a New York State Trooper regarding a large adult eagle unable to fly. Officer Willson managed to safely secure the bird (a large female) and transport it to North Country Wild Care.

The eagle was released along the Mohawk River in the Town of Minden near where it was secured by ECO Willson. Video of the release is here: https://youtu.be/kqC2KiLYTH.

Rehabilitated Bald Eagle released in Montgomery County (photo attached)

Fawn Rescue – Dutchess County

On June 18, ECO Radomski and Forest Ranger Grillo responded to a call regarding a fawn that fell down an abandoned well in the Town of Milan. Utilizing a ladder borrowed from a concerned resident and pruning shears to clear the vegetation around the well, they were able to safely extricate the animal from the well. The fawn appeared to be in good health and was reintroduced back into the woods where the mother deer was last seen.

ECO Radomski and Forest Ranger Grillo rescue a fawn stuck down a 10-foot well in Dutchess County (photo attached)

ECO Radomski and Forest Ranger Grillo with rescued fawn in Dutchess County (photo attached)

Special Olympics Torch Run – Suffolk County

On June 23, ECOs Anderson, DeRose, Francis, Franz, Kaufherr, and Lieutenant Amato participated in the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) in Suffolk County. The LETR was created in 1981 by a police chief in Wichita, Kansas to promote inclusion and acceptance of individuals with disabilities and routinely draws law enforcement personnel and members of the military from across the nation who act as “guardians” of the torch as they run alongside Special Olympic athletes. ECOs on Long Island who participated this year ran approximately 15 miles through Suffolk County and ended at Farmingdale State College where they met with fellow law enforcement colleagues from Nassau County who also participated in the run. The Special Olympics noted that more than $25,000 was raised by the Long Island groups alone despite rainy conditions on the day of the run.

L to R – ECOs Kaufherr, Francis, Anderson, DeRose, Franz, Lt. Amato, and ECO Perkins participate in law enforcement torch run on Long Island (photo attached)

Annual Youth Marine Outreach – Suffolk County

On June 24, ECOs on Long Island organized and hosted their fourth annual youth Marine Fishing Outreach event onboard the Osprey Fleet out of Port Jefferson. This year, Officers accompanied 30 youth from Little Flower Family Services on a half-day fish for porgy on the Long Island Sound. Several young newcomers attended this year, along with some return anglers. The children received a marine fishing lesson before heading out onto the water to fish and many were successful. The event was supported by the New York Conservation Officers Association, DEC’s Division of Marine Resources, I FISH NY Program, the Long Island Beach Buggies Association, and the Osprey Fleet of Port Jefferson, which generously donated the charter trip. A local wholesaler also provided food and water for the event.

ECO Griffin assists a young angler during the annual youth Marine Fishing Outreach event in Suffolk County (photo attached)

ECOs and DEC Division of Marine Fisheries employees participate in the fourth annual youth Marine Fishing Outreach event in Suffolk County (photo attached)

Fishing Compliance Checks – New York City

• ECOs in New York City recently issued hundreds of tickets during an enforcement detail focused on striped bass regulations. The six-week detail, running from April 1 through May 15 began prior to the opening of striped bass season on April 15.

During the two-week period before the season opener, ECOs issued 33 tickets for possession of striped bass out of season. Anglers were permitted to catch-and-release striped bass during that time but prohibited from keeping them.

Following the season opener, Officers shifted to monitoring compliance and possession limits. New York State regulations require harvested striped bass to be between 28 and 31 inches and anglers are limited to one fish per day. ECOs issued 67 tickets for possession of striped bass outside the legal slot size and 27 tickets for exceeding the one-fish possession limit. Officers issued an additional 74 tickets for offenses including failure to possess a marine registry, unlawful disposal of fish, and gear violations.

In total, ECOs issued 201 tickets during the striped bass enforcement initiative. For more information on marine fishing regulations, visit the DEC website.  

• On June 23, ECO Maynard observed an angler catch an undersized summer flounder (fluke) and place it in a backpack while patrolling Midland Beach in Staten Island. Officer Maynard approached the subject and discovered six fluke inside the backpack ranging in size from 10 to 14 inches. Fluke must be 19 inches in length to keep, and anglers are allowed a daily limit of three fish from May 4 to August 1. The subject received three tickets for failing to possess a valid marine registry as required in New York State, possession of undersized fluke, and taking over the limit of fluke. The case is pending in Richmond County Court.

ECO Barrett with an oversized striped bass confiscated during a six-week striped bass enforcement detail in New York City (photo attached)

Six undersized fluke discovered in a backpack at Midland Beach in Staten Island, Richmond County (photo attached)