DEC Environmental Conservation Police on patrol to protect fish, wildlife across New York

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Division of Law Enforcement has enforced the 71 chapters of New York State’s Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) to protect fish, wildlife and preserve environmental quality across New York.

This was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday June 22, 2022, by DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos.

“In 1880, the first eight Game Protectors proudly began serving to protect the natural resources and people of New York State,” the statement reads.

DEC also reports that in 2021, 282 Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and Investigators across the state responded to 26,207 calls and worked on cases that resulted in 11,562 tickets or arrests for violations ranging from deer poaching to solid waste dumping, illegal mining, the black market pet trade, and excessive emissions violations.

“DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers and Investigators are on the front lines each and every day protecting our natural resources by upholding New York’s environmental laws and regulations and safeguarding public health,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said.

“From ensuring hunters and anglers follow rules and regulations afield and on the water, to sustaining partnerships with local law enforcement agencies investigating crimes that include solid waste dumping and air emissions violations, ECOs and Investigators are on patrol, ready to serve their communities.

“Each year brings new challenges, and fortunately, these Officers and Investigators are expertly trained to perform their duties with persistence, integrity, and good judgment, as they’ve done for over a century,” he added.