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.”
Leopard Mount Seizure – Delaware County
On July 29, a Delaware County resident settled charges related to the illegal commercialization of endangered species.
In May, ECOs collaborated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to investigate a tip about a full-body leopard mount listed for sale on social media for $2,500. Officers identified the seller and determined they did not possess the permits required in New York State to sell the leopard mount. ECO Osborne responded to the seller’s location during the transaction, seized the leopard mount, and charged the individual with commercialization of endangered wildlife, a felony due to the value of the mount. As part of the legal resolution, the seller agreed to pay a $2,500 fine and forfeit the mount.
It is illegal to sell endangered or protected species in New York without the proper permits. For more information on requirements to legally sell mounts or items containing parts of endangered species, visit DEC’s Special Licenses page.
Leopard mount seized after being illegally offered for sale in Delaware County
Uncertified Pesticide Applicator – Suffolk County
On Aug. 2, ECO Zullo observed an individual spraying a substance on a residential lawn while on patrol in the town of Riverhead. The Officer also noticed a commercial landscaping truck and trailer parked nearby. The sprayer failed to post warning signs on the lawn prior to spraying a pesticide as required by law, prompting ECO Zullo to approach the individual. During his investigation, Officer Zullo discovered the substance being sprayed on the lawn was a pesticide and the applicator was not licensed to commercially apply it. ECO Zullo issued two tickets to the applicator, one for failing to place warning signs prior to applying a commercial pesticide and another for applying a pesticide commercially without certification, along with several written warnings for other pesticide-related violations. The tickets are returnable to the Town of Riverhead Justice Court.
Pesticide illegally sprayed on lawn in Suffolk County
It’s Our First Time – Nassau County
On Aug. 3, ECOs Kochanowski and Smith conducted a fishing compliance check on a vessel they observed during boat patrol on the Long Island Sound. The anglers on board claimed they only caught a few porgies and pointed to three large coolers. The Officers counted and measured the fish in the coolers and discovered the men had caught more than 400 fish with 275 of them under the minimum size of 11 inches for porgies caught from a vessel. ECOs also discovered an undersized fluke in one of the coolers. In addition to possessing the undersized and over-the-limit porgies (30 per person), Officers determined no one on board possessed a Marine Registry as required by law. The group of seven claimed ignorance about New York’s fishing regulations, stating that it was their “first time” fishing. Officers issued a total of 28 tickets for possession of undersized fish, possession of over-the-limit fish, and failing to possess a recreational marine registry. The undersized fish were donated to a local wildlife rehabilitator and Nassau County’s Tackapausha Preserve to feed eagles and other rehabilitating birds of prey.
Since the beginning of August, ECOs Kochanowski and Smith have seized more than 600 small porgies during multiple checks.
ECO Smith with undersized and over-the-limit fish seized from vessel in Nassau County
Rogue Charter – Eastern Long Island Sound
On Aug. 17, ECOs Della Rocco, Hilton, and Zullo patrolled the eastern Long Island Sound and observed several vessels with anglers on board fishing. The Officers spotted one individual on a vessel throw a black sea bass into the water and sail away from the ECOs. The Officers conducted a marine fishing compliance check on the vessel and discovered it was a fishing charter based in Connecticut with 37 black sea bass on board, 13 over the legal limit in New York State for the eight people on the boat (four per person). Eleven of the fish measured less than the minimum size limit in New York. The ECOs issued two appearance tickets to the captain of the vessel, returnable to Southold Town Justice Court. The illegal fish were seized as evidence.
ECOs Hilton and Zullo measure black sea bass caught in the Eastern Long Island Sound
Flood Response – Statewide
On Aug. 8, ECOs were deployed as part of the New York State Flood Incident Response Strike Team (FIRST) as remnants of Hurricane Debby passed through the state. Officers were staged in Guilderland and Oriskany in preparation for the storm. The Oriskany team was relocated several times tracking the storm, ending up in Canton, St. Lawrence County. On the morning of Aug. 10, a call came in to rescue a family trapped inside a cabin along the Grass River in Taylor Park. ECOs Macropoulos and Gates responded to the location along with New York State Fire. After assessing the site with a State Fire drone, the team launched two inflatable rescue boats to navigate the flooded community and locate the family in distress. The Officers carefully extricated the family of five, including a two-year-old and a dog, and brought them safely ashore.
ECOs and New York State Fire rescue a family from floodwaters in Canton, St. Lawrence County
Protecting Tidal Wetlands – Nassau County
On Aug. 8, ECO Kochanowski issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) to a property owner in Nassau County for conducting unpermitted work in a tidal wetland. On July 18, Hempstead Bay Constables requested ECO assistance with investigating reports of a bay house on Meadow Island discharging raw sewage directly into the ground. Officer Kochanowski and the Constables spoke with the homeowner who stated that approximately five years ago, they replaced the septic system and put a large holding tank into the ground containing rocks, shells, and sand. ECO Kochanowski spoke with DEC tidal wetlands employees who determined that the homeowners received permits from New York State in past years but no approvals to replace the pre-existing septic system. The NOV issued to the homeowner is returnable to DEC’s tidal wetlands program.
Orange County Air Show 2024
ECOs Boyes, Boyes, Korey, and Lovgren teamed up with New York State Police and Orange County Sheriff’s Office to help with security at the New York Air show at the Orange County Airport from Aug. 9 to 11. The annual New York Air show features aviators from the U.S. Air Force, Italian Air Force, and the West Point parachute team. Several performances including aerobatics and formation flying were on display throughout the weekend. ECOs, along with State Police, patrolled the event on ATVs assisting with security checks and vehicle control.
ECOs assist with security at the annual New York Air Show at the Orange County Airport
Wild Geese for Sale – Wayne County
On Aug. 15, a concerned hobby farmer contacted ECO Rich and explained that he was in possession of a dozen wild Canada geese mistakenly purchased as goslings, thinking they were domestic geese. The geese later became aggressive to the farmer’s established chicken, duck, and goose flock, injuring some of them.
Officer Rich responded to the location in Red Creek, Wayne County, and confirmed the geese were wild Canada geese. The resident said he had purchased the geese from a farm in the town of Rose where he had previously purchased farm animals.
ECO Rich visited the farm in Rose and spoke to a woman who recounted her 19-year-old son selling some geese a few months earlier. The son admitted he found some baby Canada geese near his private pond and chased them down with a net until he collected 12 of them. He then sold them to the hobby farmer advertised as domestic farm geese. Officer Rich charged the seller with illegally taking migratory birds.
The wild geese were released on the farm and are reportedly now eating a natural diet instead of commercial feed.
Wild Canada geese illegally offered for sale in Wayne County
Protecting New York’s Ports – Suffolk County
On Aug. 17, ECOs Della Rocco, Hilton, and Zullo participated in a high visibility security detail at the Orient Point Ferry Terminal alongside several other law enforcement agencies including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration, New York State Police, and Southold Town Police Department. During the detail, Officers from the participating agencies conducted radiation surveillance for vehicles entering and exiting New York State to help keep the state’s ports of entries safe.
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).
