The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Division of Law Enforcement continues its work enforcing the state’s Environmental Conservation Law, which covers 71 chapters and aims to protect fish, wildlife, and environmental quality across New York. The division traces its origins back to 1880 with the first eight Game Protectors.
In the first half of 2025, DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement received about 45,000 calls. Officers and investigators responded to more than 18,934 complaints and issued or made 9,440 tickets or arrests for violations such as deer poaching, solid waste dumping, illegal mining, illegal pet trade activities, and excessive emissions. In comparison, during all of 2024 the division fielded over 105,717 calls and handled more than 30,109 complaints that resulted in 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 enforcement actions included an emissions investigation in Schoharie County where ECO Bohling responded to a complaint about a vehicle repair shop modifying diesel truck exhaust systems. The investigation revealed four trucks had been altered at the facility. The owner was charged with four misdemeanor counts under state law for selling emissions control modifiers; the case will be heard in Town of Middleburgh Court.
In Greene County on July 25th this year a subject paid over $25,000 in penalties after being found responsible for illegally excavating protected waterbodies. This followed an August 2022 response by officers Palmateer and Smith who investigated stream disturbances in Catskill. Further evidence collected by investigators Sherman and Sulkey showed several protected streams were excavated; documentation included receipts and video footage confirming sales of streambed material. An Order on Consent signed in July assessed a civil penalty totaling $26,625 for multiple violations involving disturbance of protected streams and wetlands.
Other recent incidents include ECO Osborne responding on August 23rd to reports of an injured great horned owl in Delaware County; despite being transported for rehabilitation care after capture by Osborne it later died from internal injuries.
On August 28th on Long Island ECOs joined DEC I FISH NY staff along with members from State Parks to assist twenty adults from Life’s WORC Services at Captree State Park during a fishing clinic designed for individuals with disabilities or autism. Participants caught various fish species before releasing them back into the water.
To report environmental crimes or incidents statewide residents can call DEC’s dispatch line at 1-844-DEC-ECOS or email for non-urgent matters.
