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.
“DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers and Investigators from Brooklyn to Buffalo and beyond work around the clock to protect our environment, safeguard public health, and hold law breakers accountable,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said. “As DEC continues its efforts to build a Police force more reflective of the communities they serve, the public can rest assured that our Officers, in partnership with representatives of local, State, and federal law enforcement agencies, continue to enforce New York’s stringent Environmental Conservation Laws.”
Checkmate – New York County
On Jan. 11, undercover ECOs, in coordination with the DEC Division of Law Enforcement’s Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigations, seized an ivory chess set offered for sale on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Ivory articles sold in New York State are subject to a strict permitting process to ensure they are not being sourced illegally overseas. The seller in this case faces hundreds of dollars in potential fines for the illegal commercialization of ivory. DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement is tirelessly committed to stifling the market on goods sourced from poaching around the world. Recently, DEC and the New York County District Attorney’s Office announced the conviction of a Rockland County Man for felony illegal commercialization of ivory.
Marine Security Patrol – New York Harbor/Richmond County
On Feb. 1, ECOs Pansini and Broughton of the DEC Region 2 Marine Enforcement Unit conducted a Maritime Security Response Operations (MRSO) patrol focused on regulated facilities along the Kill Van-Kull and the East River. After the MRSO patrol, Officers boarded multiple commercial crabbing vessels dredging in New York Harbor and measured bushels of blue crabs. The ECOS observed no violations.
On Feb. 2, in Richmond County, ECO Clinger and Lieutenant Gates patrolled Raritan Bay off Staten Island where shellfishing is illegal. Officers observed no violations. Consumption of shellfish from Raritan Bay is a public health concern due to pollution and ECOs patrol the area regularly to ensure compliance with New York State fishing guidelines.
Eagle Fatally Struck – New York County
On Feb. 19, ECO Goonan received a request from the New York State Police Department Highway Unit to respond to a bald eagle struck by a car on the Henry Hudson Parkway southbound by 125th Street. Officer Goonan and Lieutenant Levanway arrived at the location and found the male bald eagle deceased after being struck by a vehicle while attempting to scavenge roadkill on the busy parkway. The tagged eagle had been spotted regularly hunting in Central Park and well known in the New York City metro birding community. Although a sad reminder of the hazards faced by wildlife in an urban landscape, the incident shows the success of conservation efforts for bald eagles with more than 400 breeding pairs throughout the state. Learn more about Bald Eagle Restoration in New York State. ECOs collected the eagle and prepared it for transport to the DEC Wildlife Health Unit for necropsy.
Ice Fishing Clinic – Otsego County
On Feb. 21, DEC Fisheries and New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation employees held the 14th annual ice fishing clinic at Canadarago Lake in the town of Richfield. Fourteen employees and four volunteers worked the event along with ECOs Burgess, Card, and Fetterman and Lieutenant Terrell. Fifty-five anglers attended the clinic and received a brief introduction to ice fishing before making the short walk out onto the ice where ECOs assisted them with properly using tip-ups and jig poles. Although it was a slow day overall for catching fish, some anglers managed to hook a few perch during the clinic.
Youth Ice Fishing Derby – Greene County
On Feb. 25, ECOs Smith and Palmateer attended a youth ice fishing derby at Tannersville Lake in the village of Tannersville. The event, sponsored by the Catskill Mountain Fish and Game Club and Stony Clove Rod and Gun Club, drew more than 70 young anglers who found an abundance of pickerel and blue gill. Organizers awarded trophies to youth anglers for catching the largest fish of the day, smallest fish of the day, and most fish throughout the day, as well as other prizes.
Sea Bass Bust – Suffolk County
On Feb. 27, ECOs DeVito, Giarratana, Cacciola, and Simmons partnered with Officer Lepre from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to conduct a late-night commercial fishing enforcement detail. The team boarded multiple commercial fishing vessels in Montauk and discovered multiple violations, including over the legal commercial limit of black sea bass, illegal late-night offloading of fluke and black sea bass, and failure to accurately document species/quantities of catch on vessel trip reports. ECOs ticketed the captain of the boat for each violation, returnable to East Hampton Town Court.
Truck Inspection – Bronx and Westchester Counties
A series of heavy-duty diesel truck inspections in Bronx and Westchester counties resulted in more than 50 tickets for numerous violations and some trucks being taken off the road.
On Feb. 28, ECOs Keegan, Kortz, Parmelee, and Swart assisted the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) with a routine heavy-duty diesel truck inspection in Bronx County. The group inspected vehicles for compliance with safety, environmental regulations, and paperwork. Officers observed 12 violations during the detail and took one truck out of service for safety violations.
In Westchester County, ECOs Tompkins, Swansen, Franz, and Schuck conducted several commercial vehicle enforcement details during the last two weeks of February. The Officers, working with NYSDOT and police and local law enforcement departments, focused on air quality and solid waste violations. ECOs issued 49 tickets for violations related to expired emissions inspections, waste transport violations, leaking leachate, and oil on roadways, as well as associated vehicle and traffic law violations.
One sanitation truck taken out of service in the village of Tarrytown was operating with expired vehicle and safety inspections and was severely rusted in multiple locations on the bed lining, releasing garbage leachate to the streets. Officers charged the sanitation company with operating a heavy-duty diesel vehicle without the proper inspections and depositing a noisome/unwholesome substance on a public highway, a misdemeanor.
Leap Day Shooters – Seneca and Cayuga Counties
On Feb. 29, Lieutenant Thomas received a report from Forest Ranger Captain Wickens about two individuals shooting at a group of snow geese from the side of Ninefoot Road in the town of Junius. Captain Wickens reported the shooter had jumped out of the vehicle, picked up one goose, and left three geese to die in the field. Acting on a plate number and vehicle description provided by a witness, investigators determined the vehicle was associated with an address in the village of Aurora, Cayuga County. Lieutenant Colesante and ECO McCabe responded to the address and a subject admitted to shooting geese from a vehicle using a semi-automatic shotgun with a tube extension capable of holding more than six rounds. Officers issued 10 tickets to the poaching pair, including: wanton waste; possessing a loaded gun in a motor vehicle; discharging a firearm across a public highway; illegally taking wildlife from a motor vehicle; discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling; failure to carry a migratory bird stamp; and prohibited use of a semi-automatic shotgun holding more than six rounds. All tickets are returnable to Junius Town Court.
Too Many Perch – Warren County
On March 4, Lieutenant Higgins and ECO LaPoint observed a small boat pull into a boat launch in Lake George while patrolling the area. Two anglers on board the vessel reported spending the day perch fishing and stated they caught “somewhere around” the legal limit of perch allowed in New York State. The Officers checked the anglers’ cooler and counted a total of 135 perch – 35 over the limit. ECOs ticketed both anglers for taking perch over the limit, returnable to the Town of Lake George Court.
To Catch a Dumper – Putnam County
On March 4, ECOs Franz and Schuck observed dump trucks entering a property carrying what appeared to be restricted fill material in the town of Patterson. The Officers followed the trucks onto the property and interviewed the drivers. The ECOs’ investigation confirmed both trucks were transporting restricted fill material consisting of asphalt, brick, concrete, ceramic tile, and plastic debris. The trucking company and drivers face multiple charges related to the illegal transportation and dumping of restricted fill material/solid waste. Additionally, the property owner faces multiple charges related to the operation of a solid waste management facility without a permit and the unlawful disposal of solid waste. DEC encourages New Yorkers to look at and confirm the quality of fill material purchased/secured prior to accepting it from a contractor.
Ailing Alligator – Erie County
On March 13, ECOs successfully seized an 11-foot, 750-pound alligator illegally kept at a residence in the town of Hamburg.
ECOs learned the owner of the home had built an addition to his house and installed an in-ground swimming pool to keep the roughly 30-year-old alligator, and, without a permit, allegedly allowed members of the public to get into the water to pet the unsecured alligator. The individual formerly possessed a DEC license for the alligator, but the license expired in 2021 and was not renewed.
ECOs executed the seizure in conjunction with the town of Hamburg Police Department and the Erie County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in the interest of public safety and the health, safety, and protection of the alligator. The alligator has numerous health-related issues, including blindness in both eyes and spinal complications.
Authorities turned the alligator over to a licensed caretaker who will house and care for the animal until it can be properly transported for permanent care. Analysis of additional evidence seized during the warrant and consultation with a licensed veterinarian will determine any future potential charges.
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).
