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.”
Caught on Camera - Suffolk County
On March 29, ECO DeRose began investigating the circumstances surrounding a home heating oil tank dumped illegally on the side of the road in Islip Terrace. The incident resulted in petroleum sludge leaking from the tank and onto the roadway. Officer DeRose arrived at the location, observed the oil tank and sludge, and contacted the town hazmat team for assistance. The hazmat team responded, cleaned up the spill, and safely removed 20 gallons of residual oil from the tank.
ECO DeRose canvassed the neighborhood for evidence and discovered a home across the street from the illegal dump site had a surveillance camera that recorded a white transit van backing up to the location and abandoning the tank during the busy early morning commute. Officer DeRose also obtained additional surveillance video from a nearby supermarket showing a more detailed view of the white transit van, but not a clear license plate number. Determined to find the illegal dumper, the ECO went back to the neighborhood and re-interviewed residents, including a man who denied knowing anything about it but who was also wearing a sweatshirt for a heating and cooling business. Officer DeRose checked vehicles registered to residents in the dumping area and confirmed the subject’s van was in the area at the time of the dumping. Armed with this and other evidence, ECO DeRose conducted another interview and the subject admitted ownership of the van used by a friend who illegally dumped the tank in the hopes local sanitation workers would dispose of it. The dumper was ordered to reimburse the hazmat team for the cleanup and was issued an administrative ticket for unlawful disposal of solid waste and depositing a noisome and unwholesome substance on a highway.
Abandoned tank and spill observed on a roadway in Islip Terrace
Vehicle suspected in residential oil spill captured on surveillance video in Islip Terrace
Going Once, Going Twice, Burned – Onondaga County
On April 1, ECO Scalisi received information about a property owner in the town of Lysander unlawfully accepting solid waste generated elsewhere. The Officer arrived at the location to find the smoldering remains of a pile of burning solid waste. The property owner attempted to blame tenants renting storage space on the property for the unlawful disposal but admitted to telling his employee to dump the waste on the property and burn it. An investigation determined the waste dumped at the site originated from an auction house in Auburn and that the owner routinely used the property as a dumping site. ECO Scalisi ticketed the property owner for operating a solid waste management facility without a permit, unlawful disposal of solid waste, and unlawful open burning, all returnable to Town of Lysander Court.
Smoldering pile of solid waste at alleged dump site in Onondaga County
Burning Tires - Albany County
On April 3, a construction company based in Albany County was fined for illegal burning and the unlawful disposal of solid waste. Back on March 13, an Officer with the Colonie Police Department observed a large plume of black smoke coming from Albany Street. The Officer investigated, discovered a construction company burning tires and other prohibited materials, and requested assistance from town of Colonie Fire Services and DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement. ECO Hameline responded to the location and charged the construction company with burning prohibited items in an open fire and unlawfully disposing of solid waste. Representatives from the company received a fine of more than $2,000 in the Town of Colonie Court.
Remains on unlawfully dumped solid waste burned in town of Colonie
Thou Shall Not Dump - Nassau County
On April 7, ECO DeRose received a complaint from a dog walker reporting a driver dumping several five-gallon buckets and contractor bags of construction and demolition (C&D) debris next to a park in Levittown before entering a church less than 50 feet away. Officer DeRose responded to the location, documented the items dumped, and observed circular impressions in the rear carpet of the subject’s SUV consistent with five-gallon buckets. The ECO waited in the parking lot of the church until mass ended and then confronted the suspected dumper. The subject first denied the act but confessed after ECO DeRose notified her about a witness and other evidence. The illegal dumper claimed the local sanitation hauler refused to accept the material with her household trash, so she dumped it instead. Officer DeRose ticketed the subject for the unlawful disposal of solid waste, returnable to Nassau County First District Court. She was also directed to clean up the mess and supply a receipt for the proper disposal.
Unlawfully dumped material at park in Levittown, Nassau County
Incriminating bucket print discovered during illegal dumping case in Nassau County
No Close-ups, Please - Nassau County
On April 7, ECO DeRose received a call from a local wildlife rehabilitator reporting a group of photographers setting up close to the active nest of a great horned owl and her chicks, harassing the birds as they attempted to get photographs. Officer DeRose responded and observed the group on a bike trail with some of them pushing through the nearby brush toward the base of the tree to get closer to the owls. The ECO advised the photographers of regulations prohibiting harassment of wildlife, as well as the importance of observing them at a safe distance, and the group complied. Officer DeRose then taped off a barrier surrounding the tree as a reminder.
Taped-off area protecting great horned owl nest in Nassau County
Striped Bass Busts – Nassau/Suffolk Countries
ECOs on Long Island conducted a series of fishing compliance checks over the past several weeks that resulted in several striped bass busts:
- On the night of April 6, ECO McCarthy witnessed multiple people catching and keeping out-of-season striped bass near Caumsett State Park in Suffolk County ahead of the April 15 season opener. Officer McCarthy had difficulty finding the illegal catches due to the lack of moonlight and called in ECO DeRose and his K9 partner, Cramer, to assist. K9 Cramer alerted ECOs to multiple fish buried in the sand and hidden behind logs and brush piles. ECOs recovered a total of 16 striped bass, measuring from 25 to 35 inches, and ticketed seven subjects for taking striped bass during the closed season, returnable to Lloyd Harbor Village Court.
- On April 7, ECO Pabes responded to a report of three anglers keeping out-of-season striped bass from atop the Bayville Bridge in Bayville. Striped bass season begins April 15. Officer Pabes arrived with Brookville Police and confronted the group who denied possessing any fish. ECO Pabes searched the area and located seven striped bass hidden inside traffic cones spanning the bridge. The ECO issued tickets to the subjects for illegal possession of fish during the closed season and failure to carry marine registry.
- On the evenings of April 8 and 9, ECOs Cacciola, Hilton, and Day responded to several complaints in Suffolk and Nassau counties alleging individuals were keeping striped bass before the April 15 season opener. ECOs seized 10 striped bass over two nights, ticketed seven individuals for possession of out-of-season striped bass, and three for failing to possess a marine registry. Officers advised all subjects on season dates and possession limits for striped bass.
K9 Cramer with his haul of illegal striped bass in Suffolk County
Fish hidden inside construction cones in Nassau County
ECO Day with striped bass seized during enforcement actions in Nassau and Suffolk counties
Brushfire No Match for Folding Shovel - Albany County
On April 9, ECO Hameline responded to a reported brushfire along State Farm Road in the village of Voorheesville. The Officer arrived at the location within minutes of receiving the report and observed a fire approximately 400 square feet in size. ECO Hameline grabbed a folding shovel and used it to extinguish the brushfire before it grew larger. Like many of his colleagues across the state, Officer Hameline is a volunteer member of his local fire department.
Trout Stocking – Putnam County
On April 9, ECOs Swansen and Franz assisted DEC Bureau of Fisheries employees and local volunteers with annual trout stocking activities in the towns of Carmel, Southeast, and Somers and the village of Brewster. The Officers assisted with traffic control, taking water temperature, and releasing the fish into the water. Stocking fish is a great way to provide a recreational opportunity for anglers of all ages and abilities. It also adds diversity to the local ecosystem and alleviates pressure on existing native populations.
ECO Franz takes the water temperature while assisting with trout stocking in Putnam County
No Cast Nets Allowed - Albany County
On April 10, ECO Hameline responded to reports of anglers unlawfully using a cast net at Six Mile Waterworks Park in the city of Albany. The Officer caught up with the offenders and took appropriate enforcement action. Anglers are reminded that cast nets are only allowed on the main stem of the Hudson River, downstream of the Federal Dam in Troy and in the Marine and Coastal District. Current guides on fishing regulations in New York can be found at local fishing license issuing outlets, DEC Regional Offices, or online (PDF).
Anglers caught on camera illegally cast netting in Albany County
Pesticide Details – Suffolk County
ECOs recently conducted a month-long pesticide compliance detail in Suffolk County focused on landscapers, insect control companies, and exterminators. On April 12, ECO Day and Pesticide Control Specialist Hamdouchi teamed up for the first day of the annual enforcement detail. They inspected seven landscaping companies and discovered two operating as unregistered pesticide businesses. Both companies received tickets for that violation, uncertified application of pesticides, and failure to display pesticide decals on a vehicle.
A few days later on April 15, ECO DeVito issued multiple tickets for violations including, but not limited to, unregistered pesticide businesses, individuals applying without applicator certifications, and illegal possession of restricted use pesticides. All tickets in those cases are returnable to East Hampton Town Court.
Pesticide applicator licenses and business registrations help to ensure appropriate training and education for those applying pesticides for the protection New York’s environment and public safety.
Lawn application observed during pesticide detail in Suffolk County
Spreader filled with pesticides ready for unlawful application in East Hampton, Suffolk County
K9 Track - Clinton County
On April 16, ECO LaCroix and K9 Web responded to a residence in the town of Plattsburgh to help New York State Police locate a subject making suicidal comments during a domestic dispute. The subject fled the residence into nearby woods. Accompanied by two State Troopers and Lieutenant Younglove, ECO LaCroix responded to the location and deployed K9 Web who successfully tracked and located the subject. State Police took the subject into custody.
K9 Web following a successful track in Clinton County
Inclusive Family Fishing – Monroe County
On April 21, ECOs assisted employees with DEC’s Bureaus of Education and Fisheries in DEC Region 8 with the annual Inclusive Family Fishing event at Lake Riley in Cobb’s Hill Park, Rochester. ECOs and Forest Rangers helped participants of various ages and abilities with all aspects of fishing, from how to prepare before heading out, to how to properly use fishing poles. Fisheries employees from Region 9, the City of Rochester Department of Recreation and Human Services, Seth Green Trout Unlimited Chapter, WXXI Education, an educator from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), and the Monroe County Parks Department (which installed Mobi-mats for wheelchair access), also assisted with the event that drew approximately 150 participants.
ECO Johnston assists a young angler with her fishing pole at annual Inclusive Family Fishing event in Monroe County
Participants at the Inclusive Family Fishing event in Rochester
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).
