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 2023, the Division of Law Enforcement fielded more than 101,500 calls, resulting in Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and Investigators across the state responding to more than 30,932 complaints and working on cases that resulted in nearly 16,900 tickets or arrests for violations ranging from deer poaching to solid waste dumping, illegal mining, the illegal pet trade, and excessive emissions violations.

“Environmental Conservation Police Officers and Investigators serving in DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement are working tirelessly across the state to protect natural resources and public safety while holding poachers and polluters accountable,” DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said. “DEC looks forward to continuing to work with our local, State, and federal law enforcement partners to ensure compliance with New York’s stringent environmental conservation laws and promote the safe and responsible enjoyment of the outdoors.”

Illegal Dumping - Suffolk County 

On Feb. 27, ECO DeRose received a complaint about a box truck dumping garbage and cardboard boxes on the side of the roadway on the grounds of the former Pilgrim State Hospital in Brentwood. Officer DeRose responded to the location and observed boxes with packaging waste that appeared to be from commercial shelving. While digging through the boxes and dumped material, he found a shipping document for a local store. ECO DeRose spoke to the manager of the store and traced the illegal dumper to the subcontractor of a trucking company. After ensuring the responsible party cleaned up the mess, the illegal dumper was issued an administrative summons for the unlawful disposal of solid waste.

Solid waste illegally dumped at former Pilgrim State Hospital in Brentwood, Suffolk County (photo attached)

Rogue Rehabber – Nassau County 

In early March, ECO Kochanowski and Region 1 DEC Wildlife Biologist Hamilton received a report about a wildlife rehabilitator unlawfully accepting raccoons at her home in Merrick. Officers determined the rehabilitator did not have a required rabies vector species license. Additionally, ECO Kochanowski received multiple tips alleging negligent rehabilitation practices such as raccoons escaping the residence and roaming free in the rehabilitator’s vehicle and disposing of dead raccoons in residential garbage. On March 21, ECOs Kochanowski and Pabes, along with DEC Wildlife Biologists, inspected the subject’s home and located five dead raccoons and a possum in crates or in the garbage outside. Inside the residence, DEC located a mourning dove and eastern box turtle, animals the rehabilitator is not permitted to possess, and many squirrels. The subject was permitted to possess squirrels but failed to adhere to the required guidelines preventing the squirrels from becoming habituated to human contact. The subject was issued four notices of violation for illegal possession and transportation of rabies vector species, two counts of illegal possession of protected wildlife, and failure to comply with terms of a wildlife rehabilitator’s permit. The rehabilitator’s license is currently under review by DEC’s Division of Wildlife.

Area where ECOs discovered five deceased raccoons and possum in Nassau County (photo attached)

Burning Barrel - Suffolk County 

On March 9, ECOs DeVito and Zullo observed smoke billowing from a barrel on a property in Laurel while patrolling on the North Shore of Long Island. The material burning in the barrel, which appeared to be unattended, created a thick cloud and poor visibility for drivers as it blew across the road. Concerned for public safety, Officers DeVito and Zullo entered the property to secure the scene and investigate the contents of the burning barrel. The ECOs observed copious amounts of plastic material smoldering in the barrel including plastic cups, soda bottles, plastic storage containers, and other waste products. The owner of the property informed ECOs that she started the fire and was tending to it herself. She also stated she burns frequently, usually throwing bags full of garbage directly into the barrel. The Officers extinguished the fire and advised the homeowner not to burn waste materials. In New York State, it is illegal to burn material other than charcoal or clean, dry, untreated/unpainted wood. ECO DeVito issued the defendant a ticket for burning household refuse, returnable to Southold Town Court. 

Plastic garbage burning in unattended burn barrel in Suffolk County (photo attached)

Remembering ECO Raymond - Warren County

On March 14, family, friends, and colleagues remembered ECO Stephen Lawrence Raymond with the dedication of a shadow box displayed in the lobby of the DEC sub-office in Warrensburg. 

ECO Raymond passed away on April 17, 2017, from illnesses related to his assignment at the World Trade Center following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Raymond became an ECO in 1981 and served 26 years prior to retiring in 2007. ECO Raymond, from Thurman, was the first Environmental Conservation Police Officer in New York to be diagnosed with illnesses related to his work at the World Trade Center site.  

The dedication was attended by ECO Raymond’s wife Shari, Region 5 Captain Darrah, ECO LaPoint, and DEC staff from the Warrensburg Office. The shadow box, designed and constructed by Davis Corle Sr., includes a photograph of ECO Raymond given to his wife by the organization Concerns of Public Survivors, and other memorabilia honoring the fallen Officer including a tailored uniform shirt and the candle that burned during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C.  

This is the latest in a series of honors ECO Raymond received since his passing for his bravery, courage, and selflessness, including his name added to the Police Officers’ Memorial in the U.S. Capital.   

ECO LaPoint, Shari Raymond, and Captain Darrah attend dedication ceremony for fallen ECO Stephen Raymond in Warren County (photo attached)

Shadow box created to honor fallen ECO Stephen Raymond in Warren County (photo attached)

Tribute to a Fallen Officer - Queens County

On March 26, ECOs Currey, Pansini, and Traynor participated in a solemn display of solidarity alongside other law enforcement and firefighting personnel to honor New York Police Department (NYPD) Officer Jonathan Diller. Vessels gathered near the Queens Midtown Tunnel to pay tribute as Diller was escorted home to Massapequa for his wake and funeral services. Officer Diller tragically died after being shot while conducting a traffic stop in Far Rockaway on March 25.

DEC joins other marine law enforcement and rescue boats to pay tribute to NYPD Officer Diller (photo attached)

 Shed Hunting Fail - Erie County

On March 22, ECOs completed a weeks-long investigation and charged three individuals for illegally feeding and hunting deer on railroad property in the city of Buffalo. Working with a CSX Railroad Police Special Agent and Norfolk Southern Railroad Special Agent, ECO Damrath identified the three subjects previously warned about trespassing and hunting in the area. The defendants claimed to be shed antler hunting, a legal practice where hunters pursue antlers naturally shed by antler-bearing mammals. However, eyewitnesses and cellular trail cameras observed the defendants unlawfully entering railroad property on multiple occasions dating back to January 2024, and using heavily baited “antler traps” to loosen deer antlers while bucks were feeding, which is illegal. ECO Damrath issued numerous tickets to the three subjects for trespassing, unlawfully and intentionally feeding deer, placing salt licks for deer, and the unlawful discarding of solid waste. 

Unlawful baited antler traps set up in Erie County (photo attached)

Hunter caught on cellular camera illegally baiting deer in Erie County (photo attached)

Illegal Burn - Franklin County

On March 25, ECOs Favreau and Hovey received a call from DEC Ray Brook Dispatch while on patrol in Southern Franklin County about an illegal open burn. New York State Forest Rangers were engaged in air operations at that time and observed an individual burning a large pile of construction and demolition debris in the town of Harrietstown. The ECOs, less than 10 minutes from the property, responded to the location and discovered a plume of black smoke in the air and a subject operating an excavator near a burning pile of construction debris. The Officers instructed the subject to extinguish the flames, explained New York’s open burning regulations, and ticketed him for unlawful open burning and unlawful disposal of solid waste.

Construction and demolition debris unlawfully burned in Franklin County (photo attached)

Early Spring Pesticides - Suffolk County

ECOs on Long Island conducted inspections during the last week of March focused on early applications and proper registration requirements for pesticides. Officers conducted 84 checks and observed more than 40 violations. 

Businesses commercially applying pesticides are required to register with DEC and learn about the risks and proper handlings of pesticides. Between Dec. 1 and April 1, pesticides containing nitrogen, phosphorous, or potassium are prohibited. 

ECOs are reminding both businesses and private citizens about the importance of following the application instructions on products that are applied, ensuring the protection of groundwater, and the waters surrounding Long Island. Visit the DEC website for more information on New York State’s regulations for pesticides.  

Vessel Training with Accelerant Detection K-9 Program – Warren County

On March 28, Lieutenant Higgins and ECO LaPoint met with members of the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control who are part of the Accelerant Detection K-9 Program. The program produces highly trained K-9 handlers and their K-9 partners to assist local- and county-level fire investigation teams, county fire coordinators, fire chiefs, police, and local government in the investigation of suspicious or unusual circumstance fires. These fires include situations involving loss of life, high dollar value loss, explosions, and serial fire setting. The ECOs took the K-9 and their handler out on Lake George to familiarize the K-9 with being on a boat in the event of a suspicious fire on an island or location accessed only by boat. This was followed by accelerant detection training back on shore.

ECO LaPoint familiarizes K-9 with vessel operations on Lake George (photo attached)

Fishing Compliance Checks and Charges

ECOs in the New York City area conducted a series of fishing compliance checks focused on striped bass over the last several weeks.  
 

• On March 16, ECOs uniformed and undercover conducted overnight patrols near known angling hot spots for out-of-season striped bass in Queens County. Striped bass season in the New York City area opens on April 15, and anglers who catch the fish before that date must release them. During the ECOs’ patrol, at approximately 2:15 a.m., an angler reeled in a pair of striped bass, unaware he was fishing next to an undercover Officer. The undercover Officer called in ECOs Ableson and Keegan who ticketed the angler for possession of out-of-season striped bass, returnable to Queens Criminal Court.  
• On March 24, ECOs Farner, Kortz, and Traynor observed multiple anglers fishing at Rodman’s Neck in the Bronx. The Officers seized 25 striped bass during the evening and issued three tickets to anglers for taking or possessing out-of-season striped bass.  
• On March 29, ECOs Swart and Ableson conducted an enforcement detail in Pelham Park in the Bronx and encountered a group of anglers fileting a striped bass. The Officers confiscated the fish and issued tickets for taking and failing to release the striped bass. ECOs advised the anglers that they could continue fishing but had to release any striped bass. The Officers left the area and went to another location to observe the group. Before long, the anglers continued to catch and keep striped bass, now concealing them in the rocks about 20 yards from their fishing location. The ECOs returned and ticketed the anglers again, returnable to Bronx Criminal Court where they face more than $2,500 in fines.  
• On March 29 – 30, ECOs Currey and Traynor conducted patrols near the Throgs Neck Bridge in Bronx County as part of a striped bass enforcement detail. The Officers issued 16 tickets for striped bass-related charges and seized 25 illegally possessed fish.

Lieutenant Levanway on late-night striper patrol in Queens County (photo attached)

ECOs Kortz, Traynor, and Farner with fish seized during evening patrol in Bronx County (photo attached)

ECO Ableson discovers illegally taken fish hidden under rocks during enforcement patrol at Pelham Park in Bronx County (photo attached)

ECOs Currey and Traynor near Throgs Neck Bridge with fish seized during enforcement detail in Bronx County (photo attached)

Get Your Fishing Pole - Franklin County

On April 1, ECO Garrand kicked off trout season by assisting with the first trout stocking for Northern Franklin County. DEC Chateauguay fish hatchery staff and two volunteers stocked the Little Salmon River for the towns of Moira and Bangor. For more information on trout stocking visit DEC’s website https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/freshwater-fishing/stocking/spring-trout-stocking 

(From left) Joel Avery (volunteer), Isaiah Rovito (DEC Fisheries), Derek Robit (DEC Fisheries), Wayne Louey (volunteer) stocking trout in North Bangor, Franklin County (photo attached)

Injured Eagle – Nassau County

On the morning of April 2, ECO Pabes responded to Great Neck for a report of an injured eagle in a resident’s backyard. The Officer responded and observed a male juvenile eagle with a serious injury to its head. The ECO was able to walk up and easily capture the eagle as it was perched on a back porch. DEC transported the injured bird to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in Massapequa. The rehabilitator speculates that the eagle’s injury was likely the result of an attack by another eagle, as these birds of prey are highly territorial during spring mating season. Although the injury is serious, rehabilitators are hopeful the eagle will recover from its wound.

Eagle with serious injury discovered in Nassau County (photo attached)

ECO Pabes prepares injured eagle discovered in Nassau County for transport for rehabilitation (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).