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 the first half of 2025, DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement fielded an estimated 45,000 calls, resulting in Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and Investigators across the state responding to more than 18,934 complaints and working on cases that resulted in 9,440 tickets or arrests for violations ranging from deer poaching to solid waste dumping, illegal mining, the illegal pet trade, and excessive emissions violations. 

 

In 2024, the Division fielded more than 105,717 calls, resulting in 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. 

 

“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,” DEC 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.” 

 

Atomic City Challenge – Suffolk County

On November 5 and 6, Lieutenants Blaising and Macropoulos and Investigator Stephens assisted with instruction and site safety at the Atomic City Challenge exercise in Old Bethpage. Students attending the exercise visited a variety of stations presenting radiological scenarios and used radiation detection equipment to find sources of radiation. The event drew approximately 45 students each day, representing various law enforcement agencies, including a New York Police Department Special Services Unit and members of the New York City Fire Department, Nassau County Police, and New York State Police. 

 

Lieutenant Macropoulos instructs students at the Atomic City Challenge exercise in Suffolk County (photo attached)

 

ECO Outreach – Suffolk County

On November 12, ECOs Anderson and Francis participated in the Suffolk County Community College Career Fair in Brentwood. The Officers explained the role of an ECO, the importance of the State’s Environmental Conservation Law, and the many ways DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement protects New Yorkers and our natural resources. DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement continues its search for reliable, self-motivated, and innovative individuals to join the ECO ranks. For more information on what it takes to become an ECO, including frequently asked questions regarding qualifications, visit the DEC website.  

 

ECO Francis attends a career fair at Suffolk County Community College (photo attached) 

 

Illegal Deer Take – Delaware County

On November 13, ECO Doig responded to a complaint about an individual who reportedly shot a deer with a rifle during the archery season. Officer Doig was unable to locate the subject when he arrived at the location but did obtain a potential address during his preliminary investigation. ECO Doig visited the subject’s residence and observed a large eight-point buck in the bed of a truck on the property. He interviewed the subject, who insisted he legally took the deer with his bow on a nearby property. ECO Doig, confident the deer was likely shot with a firearm based on the entry and exit wounds on the animal, confiscated the deer and brought it to the DEC Wildlife Pathology lab in Delmar for a full necropsy. The necropsy revealed the cause of death was a bullet from a rifle. Officer Doig also learned through his investigation that the animal was taken from a tree stand baited with corn. He returned to the subject’s residence and ticketed the individual for taking a deer with a rifle during the archery season, feeding deer, hunting over bait, and taking a deer illegally. All charges are pending in Middletown Court. 

 

Illegal Deer Take – Erie County

On November 15 at approximately 2 a.m., Lieutenant Mathis received a call from the City of Tonawanda Police Department regarding three individuals in a pickup truck at Veterans Memorial Park with two freshly taken deer in the bed of the truck. Lieutenant Mathis and ECO Scheer responded to the location and observed a 10-point buck and a doe in the bed of the truck that appeared to have been recently taken with a small-caliber rifle. 

 

The Officers determined through their investigation that both deer were shot earlier that night with a .22-caliber rifle from the vehicle and from a roadway in Tonawanda, which is closed to all deer hunting. The three subjects received 24 tickets total, including charges of hunting deer with rimfire ammunition, hunting deer with an artificial light, taking deer with the aid of a motor vehicle, discharging a firearm from a public highway, and possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, among other hunting-related charges. The operator of the vehicle was also arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated.  

 

ECOs commend the City of Tonawanda Police Department for their assistance in apprehending the suspected poachers.  

  

Lieutenant Mathis and ECO Scheer with illegally taken deer in Erie County (photo attached) 

 

Big Game Checkpoint – Bronx County

On November 16, the first Sunday of the regular white-tailed deer hunting season in the Southern Zone, ECOs conducted a hunting checkpoint on the Throgs Neck Bridge in conjunction with other law enforcement partners to ensure hunters adhered to New York’s hunting laws and regulations. Officers focused on taking deer illegally, committing tagging violations, and unlawfully transporting loaded firearms in motor vehicles. They stopped many vehicles transporting harvested deer and found most hunters complied with State hunting laws and regulations. ECO Toomey ticketed one hunter for an untagged deer and Officer Bayne issued three tickets to another hunter for an untagged deer, failing to report deer within 48 hours of take, and failure to tag a detached male deer head.  

 

Big Game Checkpoints – Allegany and Wyoming Counties

ECOs in DEC Region 9 conducted two checkpoints during the first two weekends of the 2025 regular big game season to ensure compliance with New York State’s hunting laws and regulations. One checkpoint occurred in the town of Granger, Allegany County, and the other was in the town of Sheldon, Wyoming County. Officers also checked for the potential importation of deer carcasses from Pennsylvania, which would be in violation of Chronic Wasting Disease regulations. ECOs, New York State Police, and the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office checked dozens of harvested deer during the detail and most hunters complied with New York State hunting laws and regulations. Officers issued a total of seven tickets for deer tagging violations and 24 tickets for vehicle and traffic offenses.   

 

ECOs and law enforcement partners conduct hunting checkpoints in Allegany and Wyoming counties (photo attached) 

 

Oh Deer – Suffolk County

On November 16, ECO Anderson responded to a call about a doe trapped on a metal fence in Oakdale. Officer Anderson arrived at the location and observed a deer lying on the ground with one of its back legs wedged in the damaged fence. ECO Anderson carefully dislodged the deer’s foot from the fence and observed no major injuries on the animal. After a few moments the deer swam away unharmed in a nearby creek.  

 

Deer freed from fence swims away seemingly unharmed in Suffolk County (photo attached) 

 

Waterfowl Hunter Education – Suffolk County

On November 18, ECO Anderson spoke at a waterfowl hunter education course in Middle Island to explain the importance of ethical hunting and the role ECOs play in enforcing New York State hunting laws and regulations. In addition, ECO Anderson educated students about the importance of properly identifying birds before shooting and the importance of using lead-free ammunition. Practicing bird identification and being prepared before heading afield can help ensure an ethical and successful hunt. Any questions or hunter harassment issues can be reported to ECOs by calling 1-844-332-3267. 

 

Not Your Average Investigation – Suffolk County

On November 21, ECO DeRose responded to a complaint in the town of Islip about two hunters dragging two deer from Connetquot River State Park Preserve, which was closed to hunting. Officer DeRose arrived at the location and observed blood evidence on the pavement where the deer were reportedly dragged out of the woods and loaded into a vehicle. During his investigation, ECO DeRose was approached by a youth on a bicycle who asked the Officer what he was doing in the area. Officer DeRose informed the inquisitive youth that he was investigating reports of deer killed illegally in the adjacent State park. He then continued his investigation on foot. Before long, five of the youth’s friends arrived in the area and peppered Officer DeRose with some additional questions about his investigation and his role as an ECO. DeRose answered their questions and then proceeded with collecting evidence that eventually revealed the deer were likely taken legally from Town property where hunting is allowed. Realizing the investigation was probably not going to reveal any criminality, ECO DeRose continued the learning opportunity and explained the evidence he was collecting to the youths and provided them with a brief education about New York State’s hunting laws and regulations and the importance of being an ethical hunter. Officer DeRose was elated that he was able to combine a real hunting investigation with some impromptu outreach that hopefully inspired some future Environmental Conservation Police Officers.  

 

ECO DeRose with youth helping his deer poaching investigation in Suffolk County (photo attached) 

 

Cooper’s Hawk Rescue – Suffolk County

On November 22, ECO Francis responded to a call from dispatch about an injured bird at a residence in North Babylon, Suffolk County. Officer Francis arrived at the location where the homeowner managed to contain the bird in a structure. ECO Francis identified the bird as a juvenile Cooper’s hawk based on its yellow-orange eyes, brownish head, and long-banded, squared-off tail. The homeowner indicated the hawk was in the yard for a few hours and appeared unable to fly. ECO Francis transported the hawk to a local rehabilitator in Massapequa, Nassau County, who confirmed the bird was a young adult Cooper’s hawk that appeared to be suffering from a broken wing and an issue with its left eye. Cooper’s hawks eat small- to medium-sized birds, as well as small mammals, and have a stable population in New York State. DEC checked in with the rehabilitator for an update on the bird’s condition and learned the Cooper’s hawk has a fractured wing and is still receiving care at the rehabilitation facility. 

 

ECO Francis with injured hawk rescued in Suffolk County (photo attached) 

 

Untagged Tautog – Queens County

ECOs Bayne and Toomey recently conducted an inspection of a seafood wholesaler in Queens after receiving a complaint of untagged tautog (blackfish) being offered for sale in early October. The ECOs located approximately 115 blackfish in the back of the facility. Most of the fish were tagged improperly through the dorsal fin. Blackfish are supposed to be tagged through their gill plates. Officers also discovered 12 completely untagged fish. They issued a ticket to the wholesaler for offering untagged tautog for sale, returnable to Queens County Criminal Court.  

 

Untagged tautog discovered at a wholesaler in Queens County (photo attached) 

 

Too Many, Too Short – Queens County

On November 24, ECOs Ableson, Broughton, and Maynard conducted vessel patrols in New York City’s Jamaica Bay. Most anglers checked were compliant with New York State’s fishing regulations. One suspicious vessel tucked under a highway bridge had 33 undersized tautog (blackfish) on board. ECOs confiscated the illegal fish from the anglers on the boat and safely returned them back to the bay. ECO Broughton issued six tickets to the anglers for the taking of over-the-limit and undersized blackfish.  

 

No Shave November – Statewide

ECOs from across the state once again participated in the annual “No Shave November” fundraising campaign to help raise awareness for men’s health and the importance of regular medical screenings. Participants were also able to donate through the New York Conservation Officers Association to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation created to assist first responders to the World Trade Center terror attacks on September 11, 2001. This year, more than $4,000 was raised. ECOs also supported their colleagues by sporting various colors of nail polish.  

 

ECOs in DEC Region 7 participate in “No Shave November” in support of the Tunnels to Towers Foundation (photo attached) 

 

ECOs in DEC Region 3 participate in “No Shave November” in support of the Tunnels to Towers Foundation (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 nonurgent violations).