ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION POLICE ON PATROL 

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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 2022, Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and Investigators across the state responded to more than 25,600 calls and worked on cases that resulted in nearly 13,800 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 and Investigators work hard each day to serve communities statewide, protect precious natural resources, and safeguard public health while ensuring those who break the State’s stringent Environmental Conservation Laws are held accountable,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said. “In partnership with local, state, and federal law enforcement, DEC looks forward to continuing to support the work our ECOs perform in every corner of New York.”?? 

Out of State – Ulster/Greene Counties 

In November, ECOs ticketed two out-of-state hunters for illegally using New York State hunting licenses in Ulster County. ECO Johnson and Lieutenant Lattimer identified the first hunter, from New Jersey, in the town of Gardiner while investigating an unrelated trespassing complaint. A few days later, ECO Johnson checked deer at a local butcher in the town of Ulster and discovered an antlerless deer taken from a Wildlife Management Area in Greene County where Deer Management Permit tags are difficult to obtain. A further investigation led him to a hunter from Colorado who illegally possessed a New York State hunting license. Both hunters received tickets for providing false information to obtain a hunting license, hunting without a valid license, and the illegal take of protected wildlife.   

Injured Eagle – Suffolk County 

On Dec. 15, ECO Zullo received a report of a bald eagle in distress in the hamlet of East Marion (town of Southold). The Officer responded to the location and observed a juvenile bald eagle stuck in a fence, suspecting it injured itself when it flew into the fence while chasing prey. Once removed, the bird was unable to fly. Officer Zullo contacted a licensed rehabilitator who is treating the eagle until it is healthy enough to be released back into the wild. 

Long Morning on Long Pond - Monroe County 

On Dec. 15, ECO Muchow responded to a call from the Monroe County 911 Center reporting waterfowl hunters potentially hunting too close to an apartment complex on Long Pond near the Lake Ontario State Parkway. Waterfowl hunting is permitted within 500 feet of a dwelling if hunters are below the mean high waterline and shooting away from the dwelling. Officer Muchow responded to the location, observed three hunters in an area where they are permitted to hunt, and collected their licenses to ensure they are legally permitted to hunt in New York State. While checking the licenses in his patrol car, the Officer received a call from a second complainant reporting the hunters had just shot two Canada geese, which were not in season. Muchow walked back to the area and discovered the two geese stashed in tall grass. The hunter who shot them claimed he thought Canada geese were in season and fired before the other two hunters could stop him. ECO Snowdon arrived at the location to assist with the investigation and the Officers ticketed all three hunters for failure to wear back tags as required. The hunter who admitted to shooting the geese received an additional charge. All three hunters settled the charges through DEC-issued Consent Orders. 

Clammed Up - Suffolk County  

On Dec. 16, ECO DeVito pulled over a pick-up truck in an uncertified shellfish area with clam rakes and baskets visible in the bed of the truck. The driver claimed to be gillnetting for fluke in the uncertified area and showed the Officer his catch. ECO DeVito observed another tote in the bed of the truck with a sheet over it and inquired about its contents. The angler claimed the second tote was empty, but Officer DeVito pulled the sheet aside and found two untagged bags of hard clams. She ticketed the defendant for possession of untagged shellfish and failure to keep accurate daily records, along with other violations. Officer DeVito then confiscated the shellfish to prevent any potential risk to the health of consumers. 

JCEO Bicycle Donations - Saranac Lake 

 On Dec. 16, ECO Garrand helped to deliver holiday cheer to families in the north country by assisting with the distribution of bicycles to families in the Saranac Lake area. The bicycles, donated by local businesses, were distributed during the holiday season by the Joint Council for Economic Opportunity, a not-for-profit human service agency that serves the residents of Clinton and Franklin counties. 

Illegal Goose – Dutchess County 

On Dec. 24, ECO Johnson received a call from New York State Police regarding individuals shooting at geese within 500 feet of a residence in the town of Union Vale. Officer Johnson responded to the location and found multiple lead shotgun shell casings within 500 feet of a residence and a goose carcass that had been left behind. Using license plate information provided by a witness, ECOs located two subjects who admitted to killing three additional geese on their way home from rabbit hunting earlier in the day. ECO Johnson seized the goose meat and issued the subjects tickets for discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a residence, taking waterfowl with lead shot, failing to retrieve waterfowl (wanton waste), and illegally taking protected wildlife. 

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).?