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 2025, DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement fielded an estimated 101,169 calls. Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and Investigators across the state responded to more than 35,575 complaints and worked on cases that resulted in 15,673 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 (ECOs) and Investigators enforce New York’s Environmental Conservation Law to ensure the protection of public safety and our vast natural resources, including air, water, wildlife, and New York’s one-of-a-kind outdoor spaces,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “This highly specialized and rewarding work is instrumental to upholding our stringent laws and making the great outdoors safe and enjoyable for everyone.”
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Family fishing event – Sullivan County
On July 27, ECO Boyes partnered with the U.S. National Park Service to host a youth fishing event at the Narrowsburg Boat Access site on the Delaware River. Approximately 12 children and their families attended the event and learned basic fishing techniques, knot tying, and how to identify different aquatic species in the Delaware River. Attendees were treated to a beautiful day for the fishing event and expressed interest and excitement in applying their new fishing knowledge at their local streams, rivers, and ponds.
Illegal sale – Sullivan County
On July 29, ECOs in Sullivan County responded to an antique store in the town of Mamakating after receiving a tip from a frequent shopper about a mounted mountain lion head being offered for sale there. An undercover Officer located the mounted head in the back of the store and made a deal to purchase it just as a uniformed Officer responded to the location. Despite claims from the store owner and employee that they did not know it was illegal to sell the mountain lion head, the ECOs charged the owner with the illegal commercialization of a prohibited species, returnable to the town of Mamakating Court, and confiscated the mounted head as evidence.
New York Airshow – Orange County
On Aug. 1 and 2, ECOs Falkengren, Radomski, Rappold, and Schuck assisted with security and traffic control at the New York Airshow at the Orange County Airport in the town of Montgomery. The show was headlined by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and featured flyovers and performances from a C-47, B-25J Mitchell, C-17 Globemaster III, and the West Point Parachute Team. New York State Police, New York State Park Police, Town of Montgomery Police Department, Town of Wallkill Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force also provided security for the event.
National Night Out – Suffolk County
On Aug. 4, ECOs Anderson and Layton attended the annual National Night Out event at Fireman’s Memorial Park in the hamlet of Ridge, Suffolk County. National Night Out is a nationwide community gathering that gives residents an opportunity to meet and interact with local police, firefighters, and other emergency personnel in a nonemergency setting, while also enjoying food trucks and family-friendly activities. ECOs Anderson and Layton spoke with adults and children about the importance of protecting New York’s natural resources and played a guessing game that revealed some of the indigenous mammals of New York State. Fostering positive relationships between law enforcement and the public helps build trust and strengthens communities. This year’s event on Long Island drew more than 2,000 people, one of the largest turnouts in the country. National Night Out occurs every year on the first Tuesday in August.
In memory of Lt. McShane – Onondaga County
On Aug. 13, Technical Sergeant Schoonover and K9 Officer Jankowski met with the family of the late Lieutenant David J. McShane, who passed away in January 2024 from an illness related to his assignment at the World Trade Center following the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001. The Officers met with the family in Lt. McShane’s hometown of Marcellus to introduce them to K9 Shane, named in memory of Lt. McShane. The family spent time with the K9 Officer before accompanying Technical Sergeant Schoonover and ECO Jankowski to the gravesite of Lt. McShane to pay their respects and honor his sacrifice.
Yacht emergency – Erie County
On Aug. 22, ECO Damrath responded to reports of a 30-foot yacht nearly submerged in front of a gas dock in the Black Rock Canal in Buffalo. Officer Damrath responded to the location, observed the nearly sunken vessel leaking gasoline, and immediately contacted the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard noted that the vessel was reportedly taking on water during the previous evening along the Niagara River near the Peace Bridge, but the boat operator managed to navigate it back into the safer waters of the Black Rock Canal before it began to sink. That night, all four people on board made it off the boat safely and left the location. ECO Damrath coordinated with the yacht’s owner and the U.S. Coast Guard Pollution Response team to remove the vessel from the canal, ensuring minimal impact to the environment in the process. There is no word on what caused the vessel to nearly sink.
Archery outreach – Saratoga County
On Aug. 22, Lieutenant Smith assisted DEC Bureau of Wildlife staff with two archery events at the Saratoga Sand Plains Wildlife Management Area Archery Range in the town of Wilton. The Community Archery Clinic organized the first event, which provided archers of all ages and abilities with the opportunity to receive personalized support from certified bowhunter education instructors and experienced archers. Lieutenant Smith assisted with range safety instruction and oversight, technical assistance, and hunting regulation guidance and clarification. He also introduced the attendees to a variety of equipment, including recurve bows, compound bows, crossbows, and several specialized tools for bow tuning, arrow building, and bow transport.
The second event, Saratoga County Veterans Archery Day, connected veterans with DEC’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program. Bowhunter education instructors introduced first-time or beginner archers to the sport by covering the basics, including equipment, range safety and etiquette, and the fundamentals of shooting a bow.
The Saratoga Sand Plains Wildlife Management Area Archery Range is a publicly accessible range open year-round. It consists of a 50-yard archery range with 16 targets on eight adult lanes and four youth lanes. For more information, visit the Saratoga Sand Plains Wildlife Management Area Archery Range webpage or contact NYSDEC Region 5 Bureau of Wildlife at (518) 623-1200.
Lunch interrupted – Westchester County
On Aug. 28, ECO Franz responded to a call regarding an owl stuck in a soccer net in Armonk. The Officer arrived at the location and discovered the owl wrapped up in netting eating a rabbit. ECO Franz carefully cut away the netting, freeing the owl, which flew away seemingly uninjured. The Officer placed the deceased rabbit in an open area, in case the owl returned to finish its meal.
