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.”

 

Deer Poacher Convicted – Genesee and Wyoming Counties

On July 14, a Wyoming County man pleaded guilty and paid a penalty for numerous deer poaching incidents in Genesee and Wyoming counties, ending a nearly two-year ECO investigation. 

 

ECO Fuerch responded to a complaint in September 2023 of a headless deer in a field in the town of Bethany, Genesee County. The complainants reported that the deer was shot between 9:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. Officer Fuerch responded to the location and observed the large, headless deer approximately 100 yards off the road with a small-caliber bullet hole in its carcass.  

 

ECOs investigated and identified Tyler D. Jennings, 29, of Attica, as a subject. With search warrants and evidence analysis, ECOs obtained time- and date-stamped photos and text messages confirming the illegal take of 15 antlered deer, mainly large bucks, dating back to 2019. ECOs also discovered the subject shot a large buck out of season in September 2023 and tagged it with an expired 2018 tag, trespassed regularly to take deer illegally, and unlawfully shared antlered-deer tags. 

 

On Feb. 27, 2025, Jennings was arrested and charged with four counts of illegally taking wildlife (misdemeanor), two counts of taking big game after legal hours (misdemeanor), one count of taking deer over the limit (misdemeanor), and nine counts of criminal mischief in the third degree (felony).  

 

DEC worked with the Wyoming County District Attorney’s Office and in July, the subject pleaded guilty and was required to pay $6,000 in fines and $750 in court surcharges. DEC also revoked Jennings’ hunting privileges for five years.

 

DEC appreciates the assistance with this investigation from New York State Police (NYSP), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Village of Attica Police, Wayne County Sherriff’s Office, Wyoming County District Attorney’s Office, and the public.

 

Evidence collected during poaching investigation in Genesee and Wyoming counties (photo attached)

 

Evidence collected during deer poaching investigation in Genesee and Wyoming counties (photo attached)

 

Over the Rail – Brookhaven Township, Suffolk County

On Aug. 16, ECO Francis responded to a call from NYSP about an individual observed by a Trooper throwing black construction bags out of a van and over a guardrail on the side of I-495 in Manorville, town of Brookhaven. Officer Francis arrived at the location and observed 14 bags, containing construction and demolition debris, on a grassy area next to the shoulder of the road. In the van were another 13 bags containing the same materials and 50 additional bags of sand, wood, and fan ventilation pieces. The subject was charged administratively through a DEC Order on Consent and fined $3,000. The subject was also ordered to pick up and properly dispose of all bags at a solid waste management facility.  

 

Boat Fire – Richmond County

On Sept. 8, ECOs Ableson, Maynard, and Pansini responded to a distress call from a sailboat that burst into flames off Staten Island. The responding ECOs were on patrol in New York Harbor when they heard the call and were the first emergency responders to arrive at the location. The Officers provided first aid to the two crew members pulled out of the water by a recreational fishing vessel and relayed pertinent information to responding aviation and maritime units. The New York City Fire Department and Perth Amboy (New Jersey) fire vessels extinguished the blaze, which remains under investigation by the U.S. Coast Guard. No one was seriously injured in the fire, but the sailboat was destroyed. VIDEO of the boat fire can be viewed here: http://www.dec.ny.gov/fs/programs/press/DLE/boatfire.mp4 

 

ECOs respond to boat fire in Richmond County (photo attached)

 

Law Enforcement Career Fair – SUNY Albany and ESF

On Sept. 11, ECOs Burgess and Bohling represented DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement at the State University of New York (SUNY) University at Albany’s 2025 Capitol District Law Enforcement Recruitment event where approximately 13 law enforcement agencies interacted with students interested in law enforcement careers.

 

At the same time, in Syracuse, ECO Swart and Forest Ranger Chappell encouraged students at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry to sign up for the upcoming Civil Service exam, a first step to joining DEC’s law enforcement ranks.

 

Interested students at both career fairs asked questions about job duties, responsibilities, and special teams. ECOs Bohling, Burgess, and Swart informed prospective candidates of the varied enforcement actions they’ve encountered over the years, including large-scale warrants and special details across New York State, focused on protecting residents and the environment.

 

ECOs Bohling (left) and Burgess (right) attend law enforcement career fair at UAlbany (photo attached)

 

ECO Swart (left) and Forest Ranger Chappell (right) attend law enforcement career fair at SUNY ESF in Syracuse (photo attached)

 

Nothing but Net – Suffolk County

On Sept. 16, ECO Francis responded to a call about a deer stuck in a soccer net on a residential lawn in the town of Islip. Officer Francis arrived at the location and observed the deer with several feet of net wrapped around one antler. The deer’s other antler was broken off near the base from the deer trying to free itself. ECO Francis managed to cut some of the netting away without getting too close, but needed assistance from the homeowner and a neighbor to use a tarp to hold the animal still while they cut the remaining netting away. The buck took a moment to recover before running off down the street.

 

Male whitetail deer grow a new set of antlers each year. Their antlers loosen and fall off each winter after breading season and a new set begins growing in the spring, initially covered in fur-like velvet. In the summer, as they reach full size, the antlers harden and the deer rub the velvet off, polishing the antlers.

 

 

Deer caught in netting in the Town of Islip, Suffolk County (photo attached)

 

Statewide Fishing Compliance Checks – New York, Nassau, Queens, Suffolk Counties

From nabbing netters to stopping illegal sales, ECOs downstate encountered a little bit of everything during their fishing compliance checks in recent weeks. Here are some of the more notable cases:  

• On Sept. 7, ECOs Ableson, Baldwin, Toomey, and Lieutenant Levanway patrolled East Broadway in Manhattan in response to complaints of people unlawfully selling fish on the sidewalk. Officer Ableson observed several vendors illegally selling tautog (not yet in season), undersized oyster toadfish, undersized black sea bass, and invasive Asian clams. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Levanway and ECOs Baldwin and Toomey quickly approached the vendors to prevent them from leaving or disposing of evidence. The Officers issued eight tickets for various violations of New York’s Environmental Conservation Law for unlawful commercialization of fish, including possession of out-of-season and undersized fish and shellfish.

On Sept. 15, ECOs Baldwin and Toomey returned to the same area in response to similar complaints. One vendor ran away when they saw the Officers, but ECO Baldwin approached a second vendor, ticketed the morning of Sept. 7, observed attempting to sell 10 out-of-season tautogs and six undersized oyster toadfish. The Officers issued three additional tickets for offering for sale untagged tautog, possession of out-of-season tautog, and possession of undersized oyster toadfish. 

• On Sept. 14, New York State Parks Police notified ECOs Franz and Smith of a group of anglers trespassing at Jones Beach State Park, Nassau County, illegally using nets to catch fish, and in possession of a short fluke. ECOs responded to the location and discovered five five-gallon buckets, and a large tote filled with thousands of Atlantic silverside baitfish, commonly known as spearing. They also found winter flounder caught out of season, undersized summer flounder (fluke), undersized black sea bass, and undersized oyster toadfish, none of which are legally allowed to be caught recreationally by net. The investigation also identified killifish, spot, and multiple species of crabs, including an undersized blue claw crab. Three of the individuals were fishing without a marine registration. ECOs issued a total of 29 tickets to the group for not possessing a food fish license, possession of out-of-season and undersized fish, no marine registration, possession of undersized blue claw crab, trespassing on property closed to the public, and illegal parking. 

 

Fish illegally offered for sale in New York County (photo attached) 

 

Thousands of illegally caught fish discovered at Jones Beach State Park in Nassau County (photo attached) 

 

Fish illegally caught by net at Jones Beach State Park in Nassau County (photo attached)

 

Public Safety Appreciation – Albany County

On Sept. 19, Governor Kathy Hochul held a Public Safety Appreciation Reception in Albany to show gratitude for the work law enforcement agencies perform to protect New Yorkers in every corner of the state. DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton, Deputy Commissioner for Public Protection Matt Franklin, Division of Law Enforcement Director Karen Przyklek, Acting Director of the Division of Forest Protection David Pachan, Colonel Brian Gillis, and Captain Christine Nelson were among the attendees. Governor Hochul held the event to say ‘thank you’ to New York's law enforcement agencies for their fight on crime on all fronts, including protecting the State's natural resources. 

 

From Left to Right: DEC Division of Law Enforcement (DLE) Colonel Brian Gillis, DLE Director Karen Przyklek, Governor Kathy Hochul, New York State Division of Forest Protection (DFP) Captain Christine Nelson, DFP Acting Director David Pachan, and DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton at “Public Safety Appreciation Reception” held by Governor Hochul (photo attached)

 

To contact an ECO to report an environmental crime or to report an incident, call 1-844-DEC-ECOS for 24-hour dispatch or email (for non-urgent violations).