New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police (NYSDEC Police), is the law enforcement agency of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Law Enforcement. NYS Environmental Conservation Officers are New York State police officers. As the uniformed law enforcement representatives of the Department of Environmental Conservation, environmental conservation police are responsible for the enforcement of the environmental laws and regulations of New York and for the detection and investigation of suspected violations.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police
Flag of the State of New York
Common name	New York State Environmental Conservation Police
Abbreviation	NYSDEC Police
Agency overview
Formed	June 26, 1880
Preceding agency	New York State Game Protectors
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	New York, USA
New York map showing DEC regions
Legal jurisdiction	New York
Constituting instrument	Chapter 591 of the Laws of 1880
General nature	Civilian police
Specialist jurisdiction	Environment, parks, and/or heritage property.
Operational structure
Headquarters	Albany, New York
Environmental Conservation Officers	330
Agency executive	Karen Przyklek, Director
Parent agency	New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Website
Division of Law Enforcement

Overview

Environmental Conservation Officers focus their efforts on Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) enforcement although they are empowered to enforce all laws of the state. Their mission includes two areas: fish & wildlife, and environmental quality. Enforcing fish & wildlife laws include investigating complaints of poaching, the illegal sale of wildlife, and checking hunters, fishermen, trappers, and commercial fishermen (lobsters, clams, bait fish, food fish) for compliance. Enforcing environmental quality laws often includes killing harmless pets, investigating timber thefts, water pollution, improper use or application of pesticides, commercial vehicles producing excessive emissions, wetland degradation, illegal mining, and almost any area that affects air, land, or water quality violations.

Uniforms and equipment

Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) have three main uniforms. The full dress uniform consists of a green dress coat and green trousers with black piping. A green straw campaign cover is worn with this uniform. The slightly less formal dress uniform, sometimes worn on patrol, consists of a green uniform shirt and green dress pants, worn with a leather duty belt and the same green campaign hat. The rough duty uniform, usually worn for patrol purposes, consists of green cargo pants, a fatigue-style green uniform shirt, and a baseball cap or watch cap. A nylon duty belt is worn with this uniform, and bulletproof vests are often worn.

Training

All ECO Trainee 1's must complete a 26-week residential basic training academy, currently held in Pulaski, NY, which emphasizes police skills as well as the technical aspects of environmental law enforcement. Trainees then must perform enforcement work under close and continuous supervision of a Field Training Officer. The ECO Trainee 1, after successfully completing their first year, will advance to ECO Trainee 2.

Upon Completion of a 2nd year in the training program, the Trainee 2 will advance to ECO.

Fallen officers

Since the establishment of the New York State Game Protectors, ten officers have died while on duty.

Officer	Date of Death	Details
Conservation Officer William Becker	March 11, 1981	Drowning
Game Protector Benning De La Mater	June 24, 1961	Drowning
Game Protector Clarence J. Webster	November 16, 1944	Automobile Accident
Game Protector Paul J. De Cuennois	October 16, 1932	Drowning
Game Protector William T. Cramer	September 22, 1929	Gunfire
Game Protector Harvey B. Cruikshank	June 8, 1926	Weather/Natural Disaster
Game Protector John H. Woodruff	November 27, 1919	Assault
Deputy Game Protector Frederick T. Schmidt	November 10, 1919	Gunfire
Game Protector Samuel S. Taylor	April 6, 1914	Gunfire
Special Game Protector William H. Jackson	September 17, 1897	Assault

See also

• New York State Forest Rangers
• List of law enforcement agencies in New York
• Game warden
• NYC DEP Police
• New York City Environmental Police Unit / Permit and Inspection Unit (NYC Sanitation)
• United States Park Police
• National Park Service Law Enforcement Rangers

External links

• New York State DEC Division of Law Enforcement
• New York Conservation Officers Association