The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Division of Law Enforcement reported significant enforcement activity during the first half of 2025, continuing its efforts to protect natural resources and public safety across the state. Officers and investigators responded to more than 18,934 complaints from an estimated 45,000 calls, resulting in 9,440 tickets or arrests for violations including deer poaching, illegal dumping, and fishing offenses. In comparison, in 2024 the division handled over 105,717 calls with more than 30,109 complaints and issued 15,755 tickets or arrests.
“DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and Investigators protect New York’s air, water, wildlife, and public safety, while also working to connect New Yorkers with the outdoors,” Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “As we tackle environmental threats on all fronts, I applaud the critical work DEC’s ECOs and Investigators are undertaking to enforce New York’s Environmental Conservation Law and ensure a cleaner, greener, safer, and more resilient New York State.”
Recent operations included several fishing compliance checks on Long Island. On August 23 in Patchogue (Suffolk County), ECO Day ticketed four individuals for possessing undersized blue crabs after discovering they had collected 86 blue crabs—51 below the legal size. Two other people at Mascot Dock were also cited for similar offenses. In total, ECO Day returned 81 undersized crabs to the water; all tickets are returnable to Suffolk First District Court.
On September 1 at Flax Pond Tidal Wetland Area (Setauket), Officer Day issued eight tickets for violations such as possession of undersized sea bass and tautog as well as parking without a permit. These cases will also be heard in Suffolk First District Court.
Another operation on September 10 near Ponquogue Bridge (Southampton) involved K9 Finn—a police dog certified in striped bass detection—who helped locate an oversized striped bass exceeding state limits. The angler received two tickets returnable to Southampton Town Justice Court.
In Nassau County on September 11 under Meadowbrook Drawbridge (Freeport), two anglers were found with excess bluefish and an undersized striped bass; they lacked proper marine registry documentation as well. Tickets were issued accordingly for Nassau First District Court.
A further incident occurred on September 18 at Port Jefferson boat ramp where four individuals were caught with multiple species of undersized fish. The confiscated catch was donated to Sweetbriar Nature Center for feeding birds under care there.
In Delaware County on September 23, ECOs Doig and Osborne responded alongside a state trooper after a motorist reported a garter snake inside her vehicle along State Route 17. The non-venomous snake was safely relocated off-road by officers.
Educational outreach activities continued throughout September. A learn-to-fish event was held at DEC Avon Headquarters for Holy Childhood participants from Rochester; this annual event aims to introduce people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to fishing skills.
On National Hunting and Fishing Day (September 27), ECO Falkenberg attended an event at Congers Lake Park in Rockland County co-sponsored by DEC that highlighted outdoor recreational opportunities and environmental stewardship for families.
Youth hunts took place statewide during late September involving training sessions about regulations and hunting safety followed by supervised hunting experiences. Events occurred in Niagara/Genesee counties’ Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area; Stewart State Forest in Orange County; Jefferson County; and St. Lawrence County—with support from organizations like NYCOA and Ducks Unlimited.
In Washington County on October 1, ECO Krug stopped a pickup truck emitting excessive black exhaust smoke—measured at an average opacity of nearly triple the legal limit—and issued a citation. Krug plans to use this case example when training new officers in air quality enforcement practices.
Finally, three new K9 officers graduated from DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement academy on October 2 following twelve weeks of specialized training in Summit (Schoharie County). The dogs are trained in detection tasks ranging from spent shell casings to wildlife tracking.
To report environmental crimes or incidents statewide around-the-clock citizens can call DEC’s dispatch line at 1-844-DEC-ECOS or email for non-urgent matters.
