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 the first half of 2025, DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement fielded an estimated 45,000 calls, resulting in Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and Investigators across the state responding to more than 18,934 complaints and working on cases that resulted in 9,440 tickets or arrests for violations ranging from deer poaching to solid waste dumping, illegal mining, the illegal pet trade, and excessive emissions violations.

In 2024, the Division fielded more than 105,717 calls, resulting in ECOs and Investigators across the state responding to more than 30,109 complaints and working on cases that resulted in 15,755 tickets or arrests for violations.

“DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and Investigators protect New York’s air, water, wildlife, and public safety, while also working to connect New Yorkers with the outdoors,” Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “As we tackle environmental threats on all fronts, I applaud the critical work DEC’s ECOs and Investigators are undertaking to enforce New York’s Environmental Conservation Law and ensure a cleaner, greener, safer, and more resilient New York State.”

Emissions Investigation – Schoharie County

ECO Bohling recently responded to a complaint in Schoharie County regarding a local vehicle repair shop illegally modifying diesel truck exhaust systems to hide the environmental impacts of some heavy-duty trucks.

The complaint came from a separate vehicle repair shop after a customer brought their truck in to have work done and a mechanic at the shop discovered the vehicle’s exhaust information was deleted. ECO Bohling conducted a lengthy investigation that included an interview with the customer who brought the truck in, supporting depositions, and financial records. The Officer discovered during the investigation that three more trucks were altered by the same facility.

The owner of the facility was charged with four counts under the New York State Environmental Conservation Law (misdemeanor) for selling emissions control modifiers. The case will be heard in the Town of Middleburgh Court.

Excavation Violations – Greene County

On July 25, a subject paid a penalty of more than $25,000 for violations related to the illegal excavation of protected waterbodies in Greene County.

On Aug. 22, 2022, ECOs Palmateer and Smith first responded to complaints regarding a stream disturbance in the town of Catskill. The Officers interviewed the complainant who provided a description of a truck observed transporting the excavated material and where the material was being delivered.

Investigators Sherman and Sulkey then conducted follow-up interviews with a nearby homeowner who received fill material resembling the streambed sediment, and additional residents who revealed the same individual excavated several protected streams in the area. Investigator Sulkey also obtained a receipt and video footage documenting the suspected individual selling the streambed material to a homeowner.

Lieutenant Nichols, Investigator Sulkey, and DEC employees visited the affected waterbodies and gathered further evidence, including measurements and photographs documenting the extent of the excavations. The subject was issued a Notice of Violation based on those findings for violating State regulations and the Environmental Conservation Law, including the disturbance of a protected stream, excavating navigable waters, and grading or dredging within a 100-foot buffer zone of a freshwater wetland.

In July 2025, an Order on Consent was signed and the subject was assessed a civil penalty of $26,625 for the violations.

Illegal stream disturbance observed in Greene County (photo attached)

Owl in Distress – Delaware County

On Aug. 23, ECO Osborne responded to a call regarding an injured owl in the town of Hancock, Delaware County. Officer Osborne arrived at the location and observed a great horned owl that appeared weak and unable to fly. The Officer carefully captured the bird and transported it to a wildlife rehabilitator for treatment. DEC checked with the wildlife rehabilitator and learned the owl unfortunately passed away due to severe internal injuries. Great horned owls are common statewide and are typically found in a wide variety of habitats.

ECO Osborne with great horned owl discovered in Delaware County (photo attached)

I FISH NY – Suffolk County

On Aug. 28, ECOs on Long Island joined DEC I FISH NY employees and members of New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) in assisting 20 special needs adults from Life’s WORC Services and Programs, a community-based organization providing support for people with disabilities and autism, for a two-hour fishing clinic at Captree State Park in Suffolk County. Many of the clients of Life’s WORC caught several fish, including small striped bass, bluefish, and needlefish. All fish were released back to the water.

ECO Layton assists an angler at an I FISH NY clinic at Captree State Park in Suffolk County (photo attached)