ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION POLICE ON PATROL

 

Department of Environmental Conservation

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Division of Law Enforcement enforces 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.  

Through October 1, 2026, DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement fielded an estimated 77,697 calls. Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and Investigators across the state responded to more than 27,604 complaints and worked on cases that resulted in 10,470 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 enforce New York’s Environmental Conservation Law to ensure the protection of public safety and our vast natural resources, including air, water, wildlife, and New York’s one-of-a-kind outdoor spaces,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “This highly specialized and rewarding work is instrumental to upholding our stringent laws and making the great outdoors safe and enjoyable for everyone.” 

Youth Waterfowl Hunt – Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area 

On September 19, Investigator Holzle and Lieutenant Ver Hague held a waterfowl identification course at the Hartland Conservation Club in Niagara County, sponsored by the New York Conservation Officer’s Association (NYCOA). Eleven young adults attended the class covering field identification, hunting habits and regulations, and general hunting safety. Eight of the 11 participants headed afield the following weekend for a youth waterfowl hunt at the Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area. ECOs in DEC Regions 8 and 9, including ECOs Fuerch, Gill, Powers, Shea, Investigator Holzle, and Lieutenant Ver Hague participated and assisted during the hunt. Numerous waterfowl were harvested, with one young hunter even reaching their limit for the day. The youth hunters used their identification techniques to tell which waterfowl species they observed flying that morning. NYCOA donated hats, gloves, face masks, and prizes won during the previous week’s waterfowl identification course. 

Youth waterfowl hunt 

Two Deer Illegally Poached – Delaware County  

On September 30, ECOs Doig and Osborne responded to a complaint regarding the illegal harvest of a deer with a rifle during the previous evening in the Town of Masonville, Delaware County. The Officers responded to the location, followed evidence leading from the roadway to a posted property, and identified where the deer was standing when it was unlawfully shot and killed. After collecting evidence at the scene and following up on leads, the ECOs responded to the residence of the alleged shooter and interviewed the subject who admitted to shooting a doe the previous evening with his rifle. The Officers confiscated the deer as evidence and continued their investigation, which revealed the subject has a previous felony conviction and could not legally possess a firearm. The individual was arrested and processed by New York State Trooper Wright for fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor.   

While processing the arrest at the State Police barracks, ECOs received another complaint regarding a second deer being illegally harvested on the same evening (September 29) as the first and in the same area. ECOs again interviewed the subject who adamantly denied taking the second deer. On October 1, ECO Osborne returned to both poached deer locations and utilized a metal detector in search of bullets. The bullets collected from both locations, including one still lodged in the second deer left in the field and not recovered by the shooter, matched the same caliber and unique characteristics associated with the subject’s rifle, indicating both animals were taken by the same firearm and likely discharged by the same person. ECO Osborne collected additional evidence from both locations, including tire tread and wheelbase measurements matching the subject’s vehicle. Footage from a security camera depicted a vehicle matching the make and model of the individual’s truck at the second crime scene. Once presented with the mounting evidence gathered by the ECOs, the subject admitted to shooting the second deer. ECO Osborne issued a total of 10 tickets for offenses, including taking two deer illegally, trespassing, hunting with the aid of a motor vehicle, discharging a firearm from a public highway, use of spotlight, possessing an unsecure firearm, and killing two deer out of season, returnable to the Town of Masonville Court.  

ECOs recover two bullets connected to the illegal take of two deer in Delaware County   Youth Pheasant Hunt – Genesee County   On October 3, ECOs in DEC Regions 8 and 9 coordinated with Pheasants on the Flats in Batavia to hold the 17th Annual Youth Pheasant Hunt. ECOs Fuerch, Powers, Shea, and Investigator Holzle assisted youth hunters on what turned out to be a cool and damp morning. All who participated in the hunt harvested at least one pheasant, and multiple participants achieved success on their first hunt. Breakfast and lunch were provided by donations from Knead the Dough in Ransomville, Verratti Farms LLC, and NYCOA, which also provided hunting equipment and safety hats for all participants.

17th Annual Youth Pheasant Hunt in Genesee County  Illegal Deer Harvest in East Islip – Suffolk County   On October 7, ECOs DeRose and Hulsen responded to the East Islip Marina in Suffolk County for reports of an illegal deer harvest. The individual suspected of illegally taking the deer first claimed that he found the injured animal in the parking lot with an arrow next to it and decided to take it once it passed away, so it wouldn’t go to waste. During a lengthy interview with the subject and an on-scene investigation, the ECOs uncovered a bow with an empty quiver in the individual’s vehicle, as well as arrows matching the one found next to the animal. The defendant finally admitted to shooting the deer from the roadway and the ECOs confiscated his bow, arrows, and the buck as evidence before charging the subject with the illegal take of deer, trespassing in a restricted area, take of a deer from a public roadway, and failure to immediately tag deer. All tickets are returnable to Suffolk First District Court.      “We just got carried away” – Washington County   On October 15, while conducting pheasant hunting compliance checks at Eldridge Swamp State Forest and Carters Pond Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Washington County, ECO Thibodeau received a report from a group of hunters about two individuals “doing a lot of shooting and running their three dogs everywhere” earlier that day. The hunters provided a vehicle description, and Officer Thibodeau later found the vehicle in a parking area at Carters Pond WMA. ECO Thibodeau checked both hunters when they returned to the vehicle, and the subjects presented two birds each that they successfully harvested. However, a thorough inspection revealed the hunters were concealing additional birds on their person and in their vehicle. The experienced hunters admitted that they knew the limit was two pheasants per person but claimed they “just got carried away.” ECO Thibodeau ticketed both hunters for taking over their limit of pheasants and confiscated four additional birds as evidence. The tickets are returnable to the Town of Greenwich Court.   Illegally harvested pheasants in Washington County  Brentwood Fire Department Open House – Suffolk County   On October 10, ECOs Collis and Perkins participated in the Brentwood Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Open House event in Suffolk County that invited local families to interact with firefighters and other emergency personnel, including ECOs. Officers Collis and Perkins hosted an informational display and answered questions from guests of all ages regarding the daily duties of ECOs and the importance of protecting our environment and natural resources. ECOs Collis and Perkins attend Brentwood Fire Department Fire Prevention Open House   Illegal Fish Take – Westchester County  On October 17, while conducting fishing compliance checks in the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, ECOs Franz, Sanner, and Schuck observed a group fishing with a cast net. The Officers checked the individuals and learned they were netting for Atlantic menhaden, also known as bunker. During their investigation, the ECOs discovered one individual possessed approximately 800 bunker, 700 more than the 100 fish limit. The Officers also discovered two striped bass measuring three to four inches, far less than New York State’s 28- to 31-inch size-limit. The ECOs issued tickets for offenses, including taking fish out of slot size, taking fish more than the daily catch limit, taking fish by means other than angling, and fishing without a license. All tickets are returnable to the Village of Croton-on-Hudson Court.   Atlantic menhaden caught unlawfully in Westchester County  Career Fair – Suffolk County   On October 20, ECOs Anderson and Dickson spoke at the Suffolk County Community College Criminal Justice Career Fair in Selden. The Officers explained the role of ECOs in protecting the public and our environment, by enforcing New York State’s Environmental Conservation Law. The ECOs also provided students interested in joining the ranks of DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement with basic information about recruitment, including the minimum age limit of 21-years-old by the date of appointment, no maximum age limit to apply, and the importance of being reliable, self-motivated, and innovative to be a successful ECO.  ECOs Anderson and Dickson attend career fair at Suffolk County Community College Criminal Justice Career Fair   Commercial Vehicle Detail – Orange/Rockland/Westchester Counties   ECOs in DEC Region 3 recently conducted an area-wide environmental quality detail focused on commercial vehicles that resulted in a variety of tickets for offenses, including the unlawful transfer of solid waste and leaking oil. Here are some of the cases they handled:     On October 19, ECOs Franz, Malone, and Schuck observed several trucks dumping fill at a construction site during an environmental quality enforcement detail in the Town of Tuxedo, Orange County. During a more thorough inspection, the Officers determined that the fill material and site were contaminated with construction and demolition materials, including brick, asphalt, and plastic, which are violations of New York State’s Environmental Conservation Law. The drivers were issued tickets for the related offenses, including failure to possess a tracking document for shipments of waste and transporting waste without a registration, as required. Transportation of solid waste is highly regulated in New York State and strictly enforced by DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement. Tickets are returnable to the Town of Tuxedo Court.   On October 21, ECOs Franz, Malone, and Schuck observed a waste transporter operating in the Village of Tarrytown, Westchester County, with an expired diesel emissions inspection. ECOs initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle, investigated further, and discovered the waste oil removal vacuum truck was also operating with an expired New York State Part 364 waste transporter registration. The company received multiple tickets for both offenses, returnable to the Village of Tarrytown Court.   On October 24, ECOs Malone and Schuck observed a truck idling in a parking lot in the Town of Ramapo, Rockland County, for nearly 10 minutes. The Officers inspected the truck and observed the front tire discharging fluid from the wheel hub. Tickets were issued to the driver for idling diesel for longer than five minutes, a violation related to air pollution control, and depositing an unwholesome substance on a highway, both violations of New York State’s Environmental Conservation Law. Tickets are returnable to the Town of Ramapo Court.   On October 31, ECOs Franz and Schuck conducted enforcement details in the City of Yonkers, Westchester County, that resulted in 13 tickets, one written warning, and multiple verbal warnings for offenses connected to unregistered waste transporters, uncovered loads of solid waste, and other vehicle and traffic law violations. All tickets are returnable to Yonkers City Court. ECOs routinely patrol Environmental Justice Communities, such as Yonkers, to help ensure the fair and meaningful treatment of all people, regardless of race, income, national origin or color, with respect to development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. ECO Malone interviews the driver of a truck cited for transport of regulated waste violations in Orange County ECOs observe expired diesel emissions inspection sticker and waste transporter registration on a commercial vehicle in Westchester County Idling box truck in Rockland County ECOs address waste transporter violations in Yonkers  Stolen Tree Stand – Washington County   On October 23, ECO Krug received a complaint from a resident in the Town of Easton who reported having a photograph of an individual carrying a crossbow trespassing on their property. A few days later, the trespasser contacted the property owner and ECOs, learned there was a signed complaint and pending charges against him, and arranged to meet with ECO Krug to receive a ticket. However, the subject did not follow through with the meeting and did not return phone calls from the Officer. On October 28, the property owner contacted ECO Krug reporting that they were hunting and heard what appeared to be their tree stand being dragged through the woods. The trespasser had apparently returned to the property and removed the property owner’s tree stand. ECO Krug and New York State Trooper McKeighan responded to the location and observed the subject across the street. The individual was arrested and charged with petit larceny, trespass, and hunter harassment and released on appearance tickets to Easton Town Court. The tree stand was returned to the property owner.     Illegal Deer Take – Franklin County  On the October 24 opening day of the Northern Zone Firearms Season, ECO Okonuk heard rifle shots near the Village of Malone, investigated, and found two untagged antlerless deer hanging in a garage. The deer did not belong to any residents in the vicinity, but Officer Okonuk was able to identify a person of interest through the investigation. The following day, ECOs Garrand and Okonuk responded to a camp and interviewed the hunter suspected of taking the antlerless deer. During the interview, the Officers learned that the subject had illegally harvested the deer on October 21 and 23 over pre-established bait, consisting of apples, corn, and salt. In addition, the hunter purchased a resident license but is a non-resident hunter. ECOs determined the subject violated 10 provisions of New York State’s Environmental Conservation Law, including hunting over pre-established bait. The individual was arraigned in the Town of Belmont Court and agreed to a compromise of civil penalties totaling $1,405. The venison was donated. It is illegal in New York State to hunt deer over bait, feed deer, or place salt near an area inhabited by deer.   Illegal bait pile discovered in Franklin County  To contact an ECO to report an environmental crime or incident, call 1-844-DEC-ECOS for 24-hour dispatch.