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,” 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.”
“King Louie” – Montgomery County
DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement has learned the antler size of a popular buck killed unlawfully last year in Montgomery County.
On December 5, 2024, DEC received complaints regarding the potential poaching of a well-known buck, nicknamed “King Louie”, in Johnstown, New York, by a local hunter. Photos of the impressive deer, known for its unique antlers, circulated through social media and text chains, eliciting many concerns in the community. ECOs Bohling and Bevis launched an immediate investigation, canvassed the area, and worked closely with Fulton County ECO Manns and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office in search of evidence. The Officers interviewed a witness who reported seeing and touching the buck on the hunter’s truck, which led to the defendant eventually admitting to unlawfully shooting the deer from the roadway on land he didn’t have permission to be on.
ECOs confiscated the buck and issued several tickets, including a misdemeanor for illegally taking big game, returnable to the Town of Mohawk Court. On Jan. 8, 2025, the defendant pleaded guilty to all charges, resulting in a $3,000 fine, five-year hunting license revocation, and mandatory completion of a New York State Hunter Safety Course.
The buck’s antlers were scored at 174 1/8” gross, which is potentially a record , unfortunately, the buck is ineligible for the record books due to its illegal harvest.
Illegal Landfill – Warren County
In May, 2025, a Warren County man received a penalty of more than $100,000 for charges related to an illegal dumping case first uncovered several years ago.
On March 11, 2021, DEC Dispatch received reports of an illegal dumping site on Corinth Road in the town of Lake Luzerne. The caller reported that everything from “sinks to cars to oil” were being dumped at the location. The next day, ECO Brassard and Lieutenant Higgins responded to the site to investigate and spoke to an individual on the property who claimed to have a permit to operate a land clearing debris landfill. The subject also informed the Officers that other people brought debris to the site since 1994. The Officers referred the case to Investigator Phelps from the Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigations (BECI).
Investigators obtained a search warrant, searched the property with assistance from uniformed ECOs and members of DEC’s Divisions of Materials Management and Remediation, and determined that the site was measured to hold approximately 16,000 cubic yards of unlawfully disposed solid waste. Officers found household garbage, construction and demolition debris, boats, campers, land clearing debris, and approximately 1,200 tires being stored on the property.
An Administrative Law Judge found the defendant liable in December 2024 and recently assessed a penalty of $118,650 and ordered cleanup of the property.
Incident Support Team Training – Port of Albany
On May 6, 2025, the DEC Division of Law Enforcement Incident Support Team (IST) began a three-day training exercise at the Port of Albany in the city of Albany. The training focused on implementing achievable goals and a review of Incident Command System and Emergency Operation Center (G-191 Incident Command System/Emergency Operations Center Interface) responsibilities and functions. The training course was taught by independent Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services instructors and included a tabletop exercise involving a mock train derailment with a toxic spill.
‘All In’ for the Fins – Queens County
On May 9, 2025, ECOs Barbera and Barrett conducted marine fishing compliance checks in Queens County and encountered an angler who appeared to flee Officers upon approach. The ECOs observed the subject throw a garbage bag and a fishing pole into the water before jumping into the water. Officers Barbera and Barrett ordered the angler to get out of the water and checked the discarded plastic bag, where they discovered illegal fish inside. The ECOs issued five tickets to the angler for being over the possession limit for striped bass, undersized striped bass, out-of-season tautog, dumping upon signal to stop, and polluting the waters of New York State. The tickets are returnable to Queens Criminal Court.
Fell Through the Cracks – Richmond County
On May 15, 2025, ECO Barrett responded to a report of ducklings stuck in a storm drain in Staten Island. Officer Barrett arrived at the location, observed seven mallard ducklings in the storm drain, and managed to remove the gate with the help of some concerned citizens before retrieving all the duckling and returning them to their mother. VIDEO of the ducklings stuck in the storm drain here: http://www.dec.ny.gov/fs/programs/press/DLE/Fell_Through_the_Cracks.mp4
Diesel Fuel Violation – Queens County
On May 17, 2025, ECO Maynard ticketed a mechanic for the unlawful disposal of diesel fuel in Queens County. Officer Maynard first received a complaint approximately a month earlier about two subjects working on a tractor trailer on the side of a road and dumping fuel on the ground. Security footage obtained by the Officer showed a mechanic unlawfully dumping fuel while the truck’s owner looked on. Weeks later, Officer Maynard spotted the mechanic’s vehicle while on patrol in Queens and positively identified the subject. The Officer issued tickets for depositing noisome and unwholesome substances on/near a public highway, returnable to Queens County Criminal Court.
Fleet Week Parade of Ships – New York Harbor
On May 21,2025, DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement (DLE) assisted with the annual Fleet Week Parade of Ships event in New York City, which honors current and past members of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. The theme of Fleet Week 2025 was “Honoring the Past, Defending the Future: 250 Years of Sea Service Excellence.” Lieutenant Auguscinski and ECOs Cacciola, Farner, Giarratana, Noble, and Simmons crewed DLE vessels and assisted the Coast Guard with escorting the USS New York into New York Harbor. The USS New York is an amphibious assault ship and is the fifth U.S. Navy ship named to honor the state of New York. It was constructed with approximately seven tons of steel salvaged from the World Trade Center.
Bald Eagle Rescue – Dutchess County
On May 21, 2025, ECO Zullo responded to a call from the town of Pawling Department of Public Works regarding an eagle’s nest that fell from a large tree with a juvenile bald eagle chick laying in it. Officer Zullo arrived at the location and observed the eagle in the broken nest. The bird was able to move around, but unable to fly, increasing its risk of becoming eaten by predators on the ground. ECO Zullo safely secured and transported the juvenile eagle to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in Hunter for further care after establishing there were no other juvenile birds in the area. The bird is still receiving care at the rehabilitation center.
No Pearls – Queens County
On May 23, 2025, ECO Maynard observed an individual picking up items from the sand during low tide at Little Neck Bay in Queens County and placing them in a yellow bag. Officer Maynard approached the angler after watching the subject unload and refill the bag several times. The subject admitted to taking oysters to eat and escorted ECO Maynard back to the yellow bag which contained several oysters, along with another pile of oysters dumped nearby. The Officer issued one ticket to the subject for taking shellfish from uncertified waters, returnable to Queens County Criminal Court. All 24 oysters were returned to the water unharmed.
Too Many Trout – St. Lawrence County
On May 23, ECO Atwood responded to a report from a concerned angler regarding a publicly posted photo depicting an individual posing in the town of Clifton with what appeared to be more than the legal limit of brown trout. The angler forwarded the picture to ECOs showing the subject with 38 brown trout. DEC statewide fishing regulations allow one angler to take five trout per day, with no more than two fish over 12 inches, while stream fishing. Officer Atwood recognized the subject in the photo as someone who was recently warned about fishing without a license. ECO Atwood issued two tickets to the subject for taking trout more than the daily limit and taking fish contrary to DEC fishing regulations. Officer Atwood confiscated the trout and donated the fish to a local food pantry.
Alleged Snake Slayer Snagged – Dutchess County
On May 28, ECOs Wamsley and Zullo observed two subjects with a large metal pole behaving suspiciously near a wooded area in the town of Fishkill. The Officers approached the individuals and identified the metal pole as a large set of snake tongs. The subjects told ECOs they caught a large snake and let it go in a grassy area nearby. The Officers quickly observed a near-dead belly-up snake nearby still writhing slightly. One of the subjects admitted to killing the snake with the tongs and trying to dispose of it when the Officers arrived. He was issued a ticket for the unlawful take of a native snake.
Swiftwater Rescue – Suffolk County
On May 28, ECO Dickson responded to a Suffolk Police radio call regarding an angler stuck and treading water in the Carlls River in the village of Babylon. Officer Dickson arrived quickly to the location with a throw bag and proceeded to the river’s edge. The ECO observed the angler in the east end of the river unable to stand and struggling to stay afloat. ECO Dickson threw his throw bag to the angler and successfully pulled the subject into shallower water where Suffolk Police Officers pulled the angler to shore using a rescue ring. The angler was exhausted from treading water for several minutes while wearing fishing waders that were also full of water. Emergency personnel treated the 69-year-old angler for exhaustion and hypothermia at the scene and transported them to a nearby hospital.
ECOs are required to take swiftwater rescue training at the DEC Police Training Academy and each Officer is issued a throw bag as standard gear to respond to these types of emergencies. Officer Dickson is also a member of the ECO Flood Incident Rescue Strike Team (FIRST), a specialized unit that responds to swiftwater and flooding events across New York State.
Reaching Out – Suffolk County
On June 4, ECOs in DEC Region 1 organized and hosted the third annual Marine Fishing Outreach event aboard the Osprey Fleet in Port Jefferson, Suffolk County. Officers escorted 25 young anglers from Little Flower Family Services on a half-day fishing trip on the Long Island Sound for porgy. The youth anglers received an education on marine habitat, fishing techniques, and marine fishing regulations before throwing their lines into the water. It was a nice day filled with sunshine, food, and successful catches.
The New York Conservation Officers Association supported the event along with DEC’s Divisions of Law Enforcement and Marine Fisheries, and the Long Island Beach Buggies Association. The charter trip was generously donated by the Osprey Fleet of Port Jefferson and a local wholesaler contributed food and beverages.
Many of this years’ attendees were repeat participants, a testament to the program’s continued success.
Animal Cruelty Follow Up – Jefferson County
On June 4, a Jefferson County subject charged with felony aggravated cruelty to animals and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree (Class A Misdemeanor) pleaded guilty to both charges in Jefferson County Court. On Feb. 14, 2025, ECOs arrested Nathan Ralston, 38, of Henderson after responding to reports of a deceased dog on the side of a road in the village of Ellisburg. Ralston shot and killed the dog near the intersection of Skinner Road and State Route 3 after the animal jumped into the driver’s lap, causing a vehicle crash. The subject then left the carcass behind. As part of the plea, Ralston was ordered to forfeit all weapons confiscated during the investigation. Ralston faces six months of local incarceration followed by five years of felony probation when he is sentenced in August.
“Officer of the Year” – Suffolk County
On June 6, ECO Anderson received the Pine Barrens Commission Environmental Conservation “Officer of the Year” award during the Central Pine Barrens annual stakeholders meeting at the Hyatt Hotel in Riverhead. Officer Anderson was awarded for continued efforts to enforce New York’s Environmental Conservation Law within the Central Pine Barrens.
ECO Anderson graduated from the DEC Division of Law Enforcement Training Academy in 2019 and was assigned to New York City before recently transferring back home to Long Island. She is currently assigned to Brookhaven Township and has been instrumental in assisting the Pine Barrens Law Enforcement Council with investigating and closing numerous illegal dumping cases, with many of them resulting in administrative fines and other penalties. Officer Anderson also actively patrols the area, protecting New York’s natural resources.
Night Shift – Nassau County
On June 7, ECOs Franz and Pabes conducted an overnight vessel patrol on the Long Island Sound in Nassau County where they boarded and inspected seven vessels for proper safety equipment and compliance with New York’s recreational fishing regulations. The ECOs issued tickets for various violations including possession of undersized summer flounder, weakfish, and scup, oversized striped bass, and fishing without a valid New York State Marine Registry.
Snappy Assist – Westchester County
On June 10, while on patrol in the town of Somers, ECOs Franz and Shuck observed a snapping turtle attempting to cross a busy road. The Officers successfully moved the turtle to the other side of the road. DEC reminds motorists to slow down if they observe a turtle crossing a road to avoid hitting it and, if safe to do so, move the turtle to the side of the road in the direction it was headed. Snapping turtles can appear aggressive but often avoid confrontation. The public is advised to never take turtles home. All native turtles are protected by law and cannot be kept without a DEC permit. For more information on DEC’s “Give Turtles a Break” initiative, visit the DEC website.
Torch Run for Special Olympics – Suffolk County
On June 10, ECOs Anderson, Cacciola, Della Rocco, DeRose, Franz, Kaufherr, Layton, Perkins, and Captain Gadomski participated in the Nassau/Suffolk Torch Run in support of Special Olympics. The Officers ran seven miles from the east with agencies from Suffolk County, converging at Farmingdale State College with agencies coming west from Nassau County. The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics began in 1981 and is held throughout the country, serving as the largest public awareness and fundraising group for Special Olympics.
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).
