Release date: Wednesday, October 12, 2022
The Law Enforcement Division of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) enforces Chapter 71 of New York’s Environmental Conservation Code (ECL) to protect fish and wildlife and maintain environmental quality throughout New York. In 1880, the first of his eight Game Protectors proudly launched an effort to protect New York State’s natural resources and people. In 2021, statewide, 282 Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) and investigators will answer 26,207 calls on topics ranging from deer poaching to solid waste dumping, illegal mining and the black market pet trade. To date, we have worked on 11,562 cases that have resulted in citations or arrests. , and excessive emission violations.
“DEC Environmental Conservation Officers and Investigators are at the forefront of protecting natural resources every day by adhering to New York’s environmental laws and regulations and protecting public health.” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said: “From ensuring hunters and anglers follow the rules and regulations in the field and on the water, to maintaining partnerships with local law enforcement investigating crimes including solid waste dumping and emissions violations. , ECOs and investigators are on patrol and ready to serve their communities.This year brings new challenges, but fortunately, these officers and investigators have been on the road for over a century. I have been professionally trained to carry out my duties with tenacity, integrity and good judgment, as I have done throughout my career.”
77th UN General Assembly Security Details – New York County
Each year, the United Nations General Assembly gathers diplomats and US presidents from around the world. Southern District ECOs assisted the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the United States Secret Service in policing the event from September 18-24. The ECOs manned patrol boats during the president’s arrival and departure. The largest patrol boat monitored the security zone set up by the USCG at Lower Manhattan and surrounding New York City airports on the East River. Cops assisted the Secret Service in stopping illegal drone operators during the event.
ECO patrol boat in front of the United Nations
ECO Bobseine and Lt. Latimer aboard the DEC patrol boat upon arrival of the President
Illegal Dumping Caught – Ossego County
On September 19, ECOs received a report that solid waste continues to be illegally dumped in a town in Maryland. ECO Vencak and Lieutenant Terrell responded to the complaint, saying through eyewitness interviews that an absentee New Jersey property owner hired two of his subjects from the metropolitan area to dismantle a trailer and sell scrap metal. I judged. Construction debris that was supposed to be properly disposed of at a local transfer station ended up being illegally dumped in Ossego County and the City of Albany. ECO contacted the property owners who cooperated with the officers and contacted the subjects. Subject claimed to clean up the mess. Subject returned to the Ossego County location and loaded the debris into his rental truck. ECO has ticketed the pair for illegal disposal of solid waste and trespassing charges. In Albany, charges are still pending as officers found more solid waste illegally dumped by the same man on a vacant lot.
Illegally Dumped Solid Waste Found in Ossego County
Kids Enjoy Multiple Hunting and Fishing Events – Orange and Rockland Counties
On September 24, the Orange and Rockland County ECOs supported two youth hunting and fishing events. At Stewart State Forest in the town of Montgomery, DEC and the Federation of Orange County Sportsmen’s Clubs (OCFSC) co-hosted a youth pheasant hunt, with over 20 youth hunters watching pheasants raised by his DEC and his OCFSC. Enjoyed the opportunity to track and capture. Less crowded hunting conditions, experienced adult hunters and dog handlers, and mild weather combine to provide junior hunters with an exceptional high altitude hunting experience.In Rockland County, DEC and Rockland The National Sportsmen’s Association held a National Hunting and Fishing Day event at Congers Lake Memorial Park in the town of Clarkstown. These free events help preserve and grow New York’s hunting and fishing traditions. Over 200 young people enjoyed his day full of hunting and fishing instruction and opportunities, including an archery range and bamboo poles to keep fly fishing going.
That’s Not a Squirrel – Niagara County
On September 25, while driving through the Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area patrolling for end-of-season goose hunters, Lieutenant Ver Hague observed the hunters in his vehicle just before sunset. ECO pulled in to check in on hunters who claimed to be hunting squirrels and not geese. At the same time, Lieutenant Ver Hague noticed Hunter trying to close the trunk of his car and observed a paw sticking out that looked larger than the squirrel’s. Upon further investigation, officers determined that the paws belonged to a raccoon, and the raccoon hunting season didn’t open for him until October 25th. ECO Holzle arrived on the scene shortly after this discovery and issued the man a ticket to hunt the raccoon out of season.
Raccoons and ECO Holzle illegally killed out of season
All Tangled – Chautauqua County
On September 27, ECO Mead received a report of a deer with its head stuck in a Jamestown swing. The caller reported that the animal struggled to free itself for an estimated 45 minutes. When Officer Mead arrived, the caller showed him his four-point back, which he tangled in a large tree swing with a 25-foot rope. This animal, in any direction he could run more than 20 feet, would quickly bounce back and be swept up to 8 feet in the air before colliding near or around a small tree. was. As night fell, Officer Meade taped the knife to a long pole and picked up a flashlight. After doing its best to avoid the animal’s violent hooves and making several attempts, ECO released the animal without harming himself or the deer by cutting the rope and preventing the deer from re-entangling. The dollar fled and showed no signs of serious damage.
With Respect – Suffolk County
On September 29th, ECO DeRose and K9 Cramer made their annual pilgrimage to Suffolk County’s Pine Lawn Cemetery to pay tribute to K9 Cramer’s late game patron of the same name, William Cramer. Kramer was killed by poachers in 1929 while trying to arrest them for illegally killing songbirds. ECO DeRose and K9 Cramer visit the cemetery every September 29th to honor the fallen officer and his ultimate sacrifice in protecting New York State’s natural resources.
K9 Cramer pays tribute to the fallen Game Warden Cramer
Sniffing out a bag of blackfish – Nassau County
On October 2nd, K9 Cramer joined ECOs investigating illegal fishing incidents in Nassau County. ECOs Kochanowski and Macropoulos observed a fisherman catching out-of-season blackfish under one of his bridges on the Wantagh Parkway, bagging it, and throwing the bag onto rocks. The angler appeared to pack up and leave when police approached. The ECO was surprised that the subject had no fish, only fishing equipment. After a hasty search of the area failed to find any poached fish, officers contacted ECO DeRose and brought in K9 Cramer. Cramer searched the area where the subject was fishing, but he focused on nearby locations. Officer DeRose expanded the search area, and after reaching the other side of the bridge, Cramer quickly shelled most of the vegetation and alerted his handlers. I found my bag. Officials will issue a ticket to the angler for rearing out-of-season blackfish and failing to release the blackfish without causing undue harm and return it to Nassau County First District Court.K9 Cramer’s handler ECO DeRose To view videos of training missions with DEC, visit DEC’s YouTube page (leaving DEC’s website).
K9 Seasonal Blackfish Kramer
Donut Hole – Sullivan County
On October 2nd, ECO’s Parker and Doroski completed a bear feeding survey in the town of Forestburg. Using information gathered by investigators from DEC’s Environmental Criminal Investigation Service, ECOs have identified areas of state land that may be prey to bears. After hiking many miles over several days, ECO found two hunting sites on a ridge that appeared to be baited as the ground near the hunting platform and blinds was newly disturbed. ECO left just as the sun was rising and spotted a bear overbait bowhunting at one of the suspect stands. The bait consisted of donuts placed on the tree, smeared on the bark of the tree and placed in tree knots. The hunter initially claimed that the donuts, including the large package of donuts in his backpack, were for his own consumption and that he simply dropped the other donuts. Ticketed hunters for not displaying backtags, damaging trees on state land, littering on state property, not labeling stands/blinds with name/address, and several other state offenses. The ECO was assisted by Lieutenant Buckley, who assisted with personal and evidence processing.
A donut bear food case in a stump in Sullivan County
Dear Meets Soccer Nets – Ossego County
On October 12th, ECO Vencak responded to reports of a deer trapped in a soccer goal net at Hartwick College in the City of Oneonta. Officer Venkak managed to cover the one-year-old deer with a blanket and hold it long enough for Hartwick’s employees to cut the net and release the deer. After the incident, the animals escaped unharmed into the forest.
A deer tangled in a soccer net at Hartwick College in Ossego County.
ECO Vencak holding a deer while Hartwick College employees cut the soccer net
To contact the ECO to report an environmental crime or incident, call 1-844-DEC-ECOS 24 hours a day or email central.dispatch@dec.ny.gov ( for non-emergency violations).
