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 2024, the Division of Law Enforcement fielded more than 105,717 calls, resulting in Environmental Conservation Police Officers (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 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 protect New York’s air, water, wildlife, and public safety, while also working to connect New Yorkers with the outdoors,” Acting 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.” 

Heavy-Duty Truck Detail – Queens County

On March 5, ECOs Barbera, Bayne, Grispin, Keegan, Kortz, Maynard, Milliron, Veloski, Investigator Dodge, and Lieutenant Macropoulos conducted a Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicle Detail in Queens. The Officers issued a total of 21 tickets after inspecting commercial vehicles for compliance with the New York State Environmental Conservation Law, Vehicle and Traffic Law, and applicable federal regulations. DEC conducts this type of enforcement to help improve air quality in communities across the state.

For more information about vehicle emissions, including those from heavy-duty diesel vehicles, visit the DEC website.

(Left to right) ECOs Barbera and Milliron inspect truck’s exhaust while ECO Keegan looks on during a heavy-duty diesel detail in Queens County (photo attached)

When I Grow Up – Warren County

On March 6, ECO Brassard and Lieutenant Higgins participated in a career fair at Lake George Elementary School in the town of Lake George. The Officers educated attendees about their role in protecting New York’s public health and environment and explained the steps and requirements to become an ECO. Many children who attended the fair dressed up in outfits to represent the career they hope to attain someday and peppered the Officers with questions about their job duties throughout the night.

ECO Brassard (left) and Lieutenant Higgins (right) participate in job fair at Lake George Elementary School in Warren County (photo attached)

College Outreach – Nassau and Suffolk Counties

ECOs on Long Island engaged with thousands of college students at outreach events in Nassau and Suffolk counties in recent weeks. 

On March 10, ECOs Berketis and Dickson participated in a career fair at SUNY Farmingdale, Suffolk County, focused on careers in law enforcement. The Officers joined other State and local police agencies, district attorney’s offices, federal agencies, and criminal justice advocacy groups to introduce students to the different career paths, specialties, and job responsibilities of the various law enforcement agencies. Officers Berkitis and Dickson fielded questions about State environmental regulations and requirements to become an ECO.  

On March 13, ECOs Dickson and Smith participated in the All-Major Career and Internship Fair at Hofstra University in Uniondale, Nassau County. The fair hosted a few hundred employers, from law enforcement to energy consulting and financial institutions. In addition to getting face time with the ECOs, students had the opportunity to practice their interview skills and have professional headshots taken for their resumes.  

ECOs Dickson (left) and Berketis (right) participate in career fair at SUNY Farmingdale in Suffolk County (photo attached)

ECOs Smith (left) and Dickson (right) participate in career fair at Hofstra University (photo attached)

Striped Bass Detail – Westchester County

In early March, ECOs from Putnam and Westchester counties conducted details along the Hudson River to focus on recreational fishing violations related to striped bass. Officers issued more than 130 tickets for various freshwater/marine fishing violations including illegal possession of fish, illegal take of fish, targeting striped bass out of season, fishing without a license/registry, and failure to use non-offset circle hooks for striped bass. Additionally, ECOs confiscated 33 illegally caught striped bass. The season opens on April 1 and striped bass caught in the Hudson River and tributaries north of the George Washington Bridge during the season may only be kept if they are between 23 inches and 28 inches long. The Hudson River striped bass fishing season and bag limit remains unchanged, with targeted angling allowed between April 1 and Nov. 30, and a one-fish bag limit. The new size limits are in response to the increase in the coastal recreational harvest of striped bass in 2022, and repeated years of poor reproductive success in the Chesapeake Bay.

Nine illegally caught striped bass from Hudson River fishing compliance detail (photo attached)

Over the Limit – Warren County

On March 9, ECOs Brassard and LaPoint conducted ATV patrols on the frozen waters of Lake George in the town of Bolton, checking anglers for compliance with New York’s fishing regulations. The Officers encountered two perch fishermen in a section of the lake known as “The Narrows” and observed a five-gallon bucket appearing to contain more than the 50 perch limit allowed in New York. The ECOs counted 69 fish, 19 over the possession limit. They issued tickets to the anglers for having over the limit of perch.  

Check out a VIDEO clip of ECO LaPoint conducting an ATV patrol on the frozen waters of Lake George here. 

Too many perch possessed by an angler during a fishing compliance patrol on Lake George, Warren County (photo attached)

Not For Sale – Bronx County

On March 13, ECOs Ableson, Currey, and Veloski partnered with law enforcement from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service to conduct routine joint inspections of wholesale seafood dealers in the Bronx. Officers focused on species being offered illegally for sale and encountered a shop during inspections offering 168 undersized American lobsters. DEC issued a Notice of Violation to the store owner, confiscated the undersized lobsters, and donated them to the Bowery Mission in Manhattan to help feed New York City residents in need.

ECO Ableson and NOAA Officer Lepre with lobsters seized during routine compliance inspections of wholesale seafood dealers in Bronx County (photo attached)

ECOs Veloski (left), Currey (center), and NOAA Officer Lepre (right) during routine joint inspections of wholesale seafood dealers in Bronx County (photo attached)

Future Conservationist – Franklin County

On March 14, ECO Okonuk and Forest Ranger Bowler participated in the Brushton-Moira Central School District Career Fair in Brushton. The pair spoke to students about the respective roles of ECOs and Forest Rangers in the protection of New York’s natural resources and public safety, with ECOs working primarily to enforce the State’s Environmental Conservation Law and Forest Rangers working primarily in forest protection and search-and-rescue duties. One student, a senior at Brushton-Moira Central School, relayed she will be attending a local college in the fall and plans to work toward her goal of one day starting a career with DEC. 

Trout Stocking – Dutchess County

On March 17, ECOs and DEC Fisheries employees joined the Federation of Dutchess County Fish and Game Clubs to stock nearly 9,000 brown trout throughout Sprout and Fishkill creeks in Dutchess County. Brown trout stocked in these creeks ranged in size from nine to 18 inches. April 1 kicks off the start of the highly anticipated trout harvest season and DEC trout stocking is in full swing with brook, brown, and rainbow trout stocked in ponds and streams throughout the state.

New York State DEC Fisheries employees stock brown trout from the Catskill Fish hatchery in Sprout Creek in Dutchess County (photo attached)

Duck, Duck, Swan – Schoharie County

On March 21, ECO Bohling responded to the intersection of State routes 20 and 30 in the town of Esperance for reports of an injured duck or goose in the roadway. Officer Bohling arrived at the location and observed a mute swan in a ditch on the side of the road. With assistance from New York State Trooper McLea, who was also dispatched to the call, ECO Bohling safely captured the swan, placed it into a bag, and transported it to the New York Wildlife Rescue in Middleburgh for treatment. The president of the wildlife rescue, Wes Laraway, inspected the bird and determined it was not injured and would be able to live a normal life on his farm. The swan remains at the facility.

ECO Bohling (right) and New York State Trooper McLea with a mute swan found on roadway in the town of Esperance (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).