The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sent this bulletin on 06/06/2024 03:11 PM EDT
Environmental Conservation Police on Patrol
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.”
Red Cross Hero Awards – Broome County ECO Wing, Lieutenant Rigoli, and New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) employees Christian Klecha and Ryan Ashley recently received the Red Cross “Animal Rescue Award” at the organization’s annual awards breakfast in Binghamton. The Red Cross Southern Tier Chapter Real Heroes Awards event is held each year and recognizes recipients for honors including the Good Neighbor Award, Good Samaritan Award, and Lifeline Award. Officer Wing, Lieutenant Rigoli, and the two DOT employees were presented with the Animal Rescue Award for their response in June 2023 to a juvenile bald eagle that was stuck in a tree branch. The group worked together to free the bird and transfer it into the care of wildlife professionals.
ECO Wing (far left), Lt. Rigoli (far right), and DOT employees Christian Klecha and Ryan Ashley receive the Red Cross Animal Rescue Award for assisting with a bald eagle rescue in Broome County
I Love My Park Day – Nassau County On May 4, ECO Smith participated in an “I Love My Park Day” event at the Forest Lake Preserve in the town of Hempstead. DEC employees ran stations on backyard bass, bug catching, and nature walks for the children and families in attendance. Officer Smith opened his police truck and outlined a day in the life of an ECO while showing off some of the tools of the trade, from animal carriers and catchpoles to high-tech implements like a smoke meter and radiation detector. Officer Smith also discussed ways the children can protect the environment and wildlife every day and answered numerous questions. At the end of the event, the children tried on ECO Smith’s muck boots, jackets, and empty body armor carrier. Many were most excited by getting to climb into the driver’s seat and play with lights and sirens in an emergency response vehicle.
ECO Smith gives children a recycling lesson at an “I Love My Park Day” event in Nassau County
ECO Smith gives an excited participant a tour of his police vehicle at an “I Love My Park Day” event in Nassau County
Hanging Out – Monroe County On May 9, ECO Muchow responded to a call from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office about a racoon caught in a shepherd’s plant hook. The Officer arrived and observed the animal hanging with it’s paw caught between the arms of the lawn ornament. The Officer first used a catch pole to try to rescue the racoon but was unsuccessful due to the paw being wedged so tightly. ECO Muchow then used the catch pole to control the animal while he manually removed the hook, allowing the animal to free itself and run off into the woods uninjured.
A racoon trapped in a lawn ornament in Monroe County
Striped Bass Bust – Suffolk County On May 20, ECOs DeVito, Simmons, and Della Rocco boarded multiple commercial and recreational fishing vessels while on patrol in Montauk. The Officers boarded a returning commercial boat loaded with totes of striped bass on the stern to check for compliance with State fishing regulations. While interviewing the boat captain, Officers discovered the striped bass harvest tag on each fish belonged to another individual who was not on board, rendering all the fish on the vessel illegal. The ECOs seized the striped bass as evidence for documentation and counted 37 fish, totaling more than 350 pounds, each tagged with the improper permit number. The Officers issued several tickets to the captain for the violations, returnable to East Hampton Town Court.
ECO DeVito (left) and ECO Simmons (right) aboard DEC vessel A2 with illegally taken striped bass in Suffolk County
20th Annual Jones Beach Air Show – Nassau County On May 24, 25, and 26, ECOs in DEC Region 1 assisted New York State Park Police and the United States Coast Guard with security at the annual Jones Beach Air show. ECOs on ATVs patrolled the beachfront to help maintain public safety and protect the nesting areas of vital endangered species. Other members of DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement patrolled at sea, securing the Air Show security zone and keeping emergency channels clear on Hempstead and Zach’s bays. ECOs have participated in every air show and are heavily relied on by partner agencies in law enforcement.
ECO Paschke provides security on beach front as the Blue Angels fly overhead during 20th Annual Jones Beach Air Show in Nassau County
Region 1 Annual “Spring Fling” – Nassau & Suffolk Counties From mid-April to mid-May, ECOs in DEC Region 1 participated in the annual “Spring Fling,” a detail in which ECOs and specialists from DEC’s Division of Pesticides team up to inspect pesticide applicators throughout Long Island to ensure they follow New York State’s stringent regulations on pesticide use. The teams inspected 160 applicators/businesses and issued 156 tickets and nine written warnings.
The weeks-long detail resulted in the following:
Application of pesticides without a permit – 13 tickets;
Operation of an unregistered pesticides business – 48 tickets, three written warnings;
Possess/use pesticide not in original container – 36 tickets, three written warnings;
Possess/use unregistered pesticides – two tickets;
Failure to place lawn markers – 11 tickets;
Application of pesticides without certification – six tickets;
Failure to display decals – 33 tickets, two written warnings;
Application of pesticides without a contract – one ticket;
Failure to maintain records – one summons;
Possession/use of restricted use pesticide – one summons; and
Failure to possess/use according to label – four tickets, one written warning.
Timber Theft Solved – Allegany County On May 24, with support from the Allegany County District Attorney’s Office, Investigator Piwko coordinated the arrest of a subject on charges related to an alleged timber theft in the town of Almond back in February 2023. Under direction from the D.A.’s office, the subject received four felony criminal complaints, including two counts of grand larceny, two counts of criminal mischief, and misdemeanor violations of New York State Environmental Conservation Law. New York State Police Trooper Amity supported the arrest processing. The defendant will be arraigned in West Almond Town Court.
Polluters Arrested – Allegany County On May 27, Investigators in DEC Region 9 arrested two brothers on charges related to a large oil spill that impacted the Allegheny River watershed last summer.
On Aug. 20, 2023, DEC’s Spills Hotline received a complaint about a large amount of crude oil flowing into Foster Creek, a headwater of the Allegheny River. The spill also flowed into a beaver swamp, killing a family of beavers. A DEC contractor cleaned up the contamination under the guidance of DEC spill response experts.
The next day, on Aug. 21, 2023, ECO Calanni and Investigator Piwko began a criminal investigation into the oil and gas well spill. The investigation resulted in ECO Calanni and Investigators Dougherty and Piwko arresting brothers Steven L. Adams and Eddie D. Adams for their alleged involvement in the spill.
The pair were processed at the New York State Police barracks in Amity, issued appearance tickets, and released. Charges include polluting waters in contravention of standards, discharge without a State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Permit, failure to report bulk spills of a liquid pollutant, and discharge without a permit - all misdemeanors of the State Environmental Conservation Law. The two are scheduled to be arraigned in Genesee Town Court in Allegany County.
Fox Attack – Montgomery County On May 29, Lieutenant DeAngelis responded to a call from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office regarding a fox that bit multiple children at St. Mary’s Institute on Kopernick Boulevard in Amsterdam. Working closely with Amsterdam Police, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and New York State Police, Officers utilized an electronic predator call app which they broadcast over a patrol vehicle’s PA system to lure the animal out of the woods. After approximately 15 minutes, the fox returned to the wood line and immediately charged at the Officers. Lieutenant DeAngelis quickly dispatched the animal. The carcass was turned over to Amsterdam Police for transport to the Montgomery Department of Health for testing.
24th Basic School for Uniformed Officers – Oswego County On June 2, DEC opened the 24th Basic School for Uniformed Officers with the newest class of police officer recruits. They reported to the training academy in Pulaski, which has served as the home for these trainings for the last several academies. Forty-four recruits signed in on Sunday night to begin training. For the first several weeks, recruits will receive intense physical fitness training, basic computer skills, cultural diversity lessons, and an introduction to law, including constitutional law.
Opening night of the 24th Basic School for Uniformed Officers in Pulaski
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).
