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 their communities, protect our 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.”

Providing a Pesticides Primer to the Pros – Region 1 

On Nov. 8, ECO Smith and staff from the Bureau of Pesticides Management spoke at the Landscape Contractors Association of Long Island’s annual Education Conference and Trade Show. Speaking to approximately 150 attendees, ECO Smith provided an overview of what pesticide applicators should expect when approached by an ECO during a pesticide inspection.  Pesticides staff discussed regulatory updates from the past year and what to expect in the future and provided step-by-step instructions on utilizing a new online reporting tool. Following the presentation, ECO Smith answered questions about everything from proper container labeling to how to upgrade a license from technician to applicator. 

ECO Smith speaking to pesticide conference attendees (photo attached)

 
A Sunk Cost - Suffolk County 

On Nov. 17, Babylon Bay Constables called for assistance from DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement for a sunken barge and tugboat in the LaSala Boatyard in Copiague. ECOs Dickson and Paschke arrived on scene to assess the situation and found the partially submerged barge and tugboat leaking diesel fuel into the water. The ECOs, town of Babylon Bay Constables, Babylon Department of Environmental Control, and Babylon Fire Marshals deployed a boom around the area to contain the spill and prevent more product from leaking into the creek. During the investigation, ECOs learned the owner of the vessel purchased the barge just three days prior to start his own bulkhead business. U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and DEC Spill Responders were contacted and the USCG advised the owner to immediately begin cleanup and remediation. The scene was turned over to the DEC Spills Unit, while USCG, ECOs, and Bay Constables continued to monitor the area for evidence of contamination. The owner removed the remaining fuel from the barge and tug, but not before approximately 100 gallons of diesel was lost to the environment.  

Sunken barge and tugboat in Copiague (photo attached)

ECO Paschke assists Babylon Bay Constables with boom deployment (photo attached)

“We Were Catching Everything” – Suffolk County 

On Nov. 25, ECO Dickson received a complaint of a head boat keeping undersized striped bass in the back chest near the boat’s stern. ECO Dickson quickly boarded a patrol vessel to investigate the complaint and found the head boat in question returning from the inlet. The ECO boarded the vessel and immediately observed several striped bass racks (carcasses with the fillets removed) and whole striped bass in baskets in the stern. The biggest fish were only 26 inches in length; the smallest were 22 inches. Twelve fish were found aboard the vessel, all outside of the legal slot size of 28 to 31 inches. The ECO interviewed the captain and crew of the boat and when asked if they measured any of the fish, a mate on the boat said, “We were catching everything.” ECO Dickson contacted ECO Perkins for assistance in inspecting the at-capacity vessel. As the head boat made its way into home port, more fillets were found in the below deck freezer. The captain of the vessel was issued citations for undersized striped bass and possessing more than the legal limit of striped bass. The seized fish were donated to a local wildlife rehabilitator.   

ECO Dickson with 12 undersized striped bass (photo attached)

Striped bass racks and fillets found on vessel (photo attached)

Illegal Deer Take - Schoharie County 

On Nov. 25, at approximately 1 p.m., while patrolling in the town of Blenheim, ECOs Bohling and Burgess checked a deer on a deer carrier on Burnt Hill Road in Burnt-Rossman Hill State Forest in Schoharie County. ECO Bohling observed the deer was freshly harvested and had only one antler five inches long. Burnt Hill State Forest is in Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 4G and a mandatory antler restriction area, meaning that any buck (antler over 3”) harvested must have at least one antler with three points. The ECO noticed the tag on the deer was a Deer Management Permit for the wrong WMU and had been filled out as taken on that date in the town of Rensselaerville, Albany County. The ECOs interviewed residents at camps in the area who said they observed and spoke with the hunter at 8 a.m. before he went afield. The campers also noted there was not a deer on the carrier when the hunter parked that morning. The ECOS gathered evidence, waited for the hunter to come out of the woods, and interviewed him. The hunter admitted to shooting the deer on State land and tagging it with his 4H DMP tag. Additionally, he justified shooting the deer because he thought it was a doe. ECO Bohling quickly informed the hunter that even if he were hunting a doe, he would not be able to harvest it with a 4H tag in WMU 4G. ECOs issued four tickets for the illegal take of big game, having a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, improper tagging, and harvesting a buck without three points in an antler restriction area. 

ECO Bohling with the illegally taken deer (photo attached)

Take Out the Trash – Suffolk County 

On Nov. 28 while on patrol in Hampton Bays, ECO McGhee observed multiple bags of household trash dumped along a stretch of road that runs through Hubbard County Park. The ECO donned a pair of protective gloves and sifted through the trash in search of any clues that might lead to possible offenders. After sifting through the discarded rubbish, the ECO found names and an address -- the same address found on boxes and garbage dumped in the vicinity a few weeks earlier. With help from ECO Vandenbos, ECO McGhee tracked down a suspect. The offender admitted to dumping the trash and was issued a ticket for unlawful disposal of solid waste. 

Trash found dumped on Hubbard County Park property (photo attached)

NARW Speed Zone - New York City 

During the last week of November, ECOs from the DEC Region 2 New York City Marine Enforcement Unit assisted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Law Enforcement to ensure compliance with North Atlantic Right Whale Speed Zone regulations in the New York Bight. Officers performed speed monitoring of large commercial vessels bound for New York Harbor. Most vessels 65 feet or longer must travel at 10 knots or less in certain locations, called Seasonal Management Areas, along the U.S. East Coast at certain times of the year. This reduced speed lowers the threat of vessel collisions with critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. There are approximately 356 North Atlantic right whales left in the world. The leading causes of death and injury are entanglements in fishing gear and vessel strikes.  

ECOs checking ship speeds to protect North American right whales (photo attached)

Decoy Nabs Multiple Road Hunters - Cattaraugus County 

Between Dec. 2 and 10, ECOs Bobseine, Gill, Machnica, Powers, Powers, and Wilson conducted deer decoy operations targeting individuals illegally road hunting at various locations in Cattaraugus County. The ECOs issued more than 20 tickets to five different individuals for violations including discharging a firearm from a public highway, possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, failure to wear fluorescent orange or pink, and failure to wear back tags. This video shows ECO Bobseine operating the decoy and then moving to make initial contact with one of the violators after they shot the decoy. 

WWIAF Fifth Annual Wounded Veteran Deer Hunt - Ontario County 

Between Dec. 7 and Dec. 11, DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement supported the Fifth Annual Wounded Veteran Deer Hunt hosted by the Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation (WWIAF) and the Naples Chapter of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Captain VerHague (New York Army National Guard) and Lieutenant Fay (New York Army National Guard – CPT RET.) were involved with the planning and organization of this year’s event. WWIAF “provides world-class outdoor sporting activities to Purple Heart recipients to assist in their recovery efforts, all at no cost to them.”  This event is solely run through donations and support by volunteers organized by VFW Post #8726 Naples. 

The New York Conservation Officers Association supported this event by donating several tokens of appreciation and covered the cost of the non-resident hunting licenses and deer management permit application fees for three participating Purple Heart recipients. Six doe and two bucks were harvested during the event. Captain VerHague attended the closing ceremony and dinner on Dec.10 to present the donated items. 

Captain VerHague with Veteran Deer Hunt participants (photo attached)

Shop with a Cop - Niagara County 

On Dec. 9, ECO Wozniak and Lt. Ver Hague participated in the Niagara County Sheriff Department’s annual “Shop with a Cop” event. ECOs joined other members of law enforcement to take local children in need on a holiday shopping spree. ECO Wozniak was paired up with Antonio and his mother. Upon entering the store, Antonio went right to the toy section, and with the help of his mom, found numerous items to help make his Christmas brighter. Lieutenant Ver Hague partnered with Dispatcher Stevens to assist sisters Courtney and Francesca. The young ladies shopped all over the store to pick the items they wanted most. After shopping, the children had a pizza party and a visit from Santa Claus. The annual event provides an excellent opportunity for ECOs to interact with the community during the holidays. 

 
Lt. VerHague and Dispatcher Stevens spreading Christmas cheer (photo attached)

Lt. VerHague spreading Christmas cheer (photo attached)

Quick Thinking Witness Helps Solve Case - Suffolk County 

On Dec. 12, ECO DeRose received a call from local nursing home employee who reported a deer shot illegally on the property. ECO DeRose responded and found a deer laying against the building, still alive but with a fatal wound to its neck. The Officer called in ECOs Perkins and Cacciola to assist with the investigation. The ECOs tracked a blood trail into the tree line and found the area they believed the deer was initially shot. Expanding the search area, the ECOs found an arrow in the ground with blood and hair on it. With the assistance of an eyewitness who provided a license plate and description of two additional people, ECOs were able to track down two suspects. The pair admitted to driving into the nursing home property with intent to shoot a deer. Both subjects were issued tickets for trespassing and for illegally taking a deer. The shooter was issued an additional ticket for discharging a bow within 150 feet of an occupied dwelling. 

Arrow located by the team of ECOs (photo attached)

Spreading Holiday Cheer - Monroe County 

On Dec. 20, Director Przyklek, ECOs Fuerch and Snowden, and K9 Hanley participated in “Good Night Lights.” During the annual event, ECOs and other first responders spread holiday cheer to families staying at Golisano Children’s Hospital and Wilmot Cancer Center in Rochester. 

ECO Snowden, ECO Fuerch with K9 Hanley, and Director Przyklek at Good Night Lights (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).