DEC Environmental Conservation Officer Highlights |
ECO Actions for Early to Mid-DecemberNew York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) enforce the 71 Chapters of NY Environmental Conservation Law, protecting fish and wildlife and preserving environmental quality across New York. In 2016, the 286 ECOs across the state responded to 26,400 calls and issued 22,150 tickets for crimes ranging from deer poaching to corporate toxic dumping and illegal mining, the black market pet trade, and excessive emissions violations. “From Montauk Point to Mount Marcy, from Brooklyn to Buffalo, the ECOs patrolling our state are the first line of defense in protecting New York’s environment and our natural resources, ensuring that they exist for future generations of New Yorkers,” said Commissioner Basil Seggos. “They work long and arduous hours, both deep in our remote wildernesses and in the tight confines of our urban landscapes. Although they don’t receive much public fanfare, the work of our ECOs is critical to achieving DEC’s mission to protect and enhance our environment.” Recent missions carried out by ECOs include: Persistence Pays Off – Chemung County During the 2016 big game season, ECO John Lifrieri investigated a baiting complaint in the town of Ashland. At that time, a mineral block and other bait were being used at several tree stands on a property. After several unsuccessful attempts to find the subject hunting over the bait, ECO Lifrieri decided to wait until the 2017 seasons. Just prior to the 2017 bow season, the Officer checked the hunter’s ground blind and tree stand again with no luck. Later, ECO Lifrieri carefully scouted the surrounding vicinity and discovered a mineral block tucked down behind a tree near a tree stand and a somewhat fresh gut pile. The hunter had reported an 8-point buck harvested on Nov. 20, 2017. ECO Lifrieri documented the information, took photos, and left the scene. On Dec. 8, the ECO finally caught the perpetrator hunting in the tree stand. The man admitted to hunting the area several times since the 2016 season, and that he knew baiting deer and using a mineral block were illegal. The subject also confirmed that he had shot the 8-point buck in the baited area. The hunter was charged with hunting deer with the aid of bait, unlawful feeding of deer, placing a mineral block on lands inhabited by deer, and a misdemeanor for taking an illegal deer. The hunter’s case will be heard on Jan.16, 2018, in the Town of Ashland Court. Several pounds of processed venison were seized and confiscated from the subject’s residence and donated to the Wellsburg Food Cupboard food pantry.
Hunting While Impaired – Oneida County On Dec. 8, ECO Steve Lakeman was patrolling the Utica Marsh in Oneida County. ECO Lakeman observed a man carrying a rifle walking along an abandoned road through the marsh. When the subject saw the Officer, he threw what appeared to be a cigarette to the ground. As ECO Lakeman approached, he noticed the strong odor of burnt marijuana. The subject stated that he was deer hunting and had been smoking marijuana. The cigarette, which contained marijuana, was recovered. With the assistance of a State Trooper, the hunter submitted to field sobriety testing. The test results indicated that he was in an impaired condition. ECO Lakeman issued tickets for hunting while impaired by drugs, failure to carry a hunting license, and unlawful possession of marijuana, returnable to the Town of Marcy Court in Jan. 2018. The Big Bad Wolf – Westchester County On Dec. 11, ECOs Charles Eyler III and Craig Tompkins received information from ECO Adam Johnson that an individual was selling a Timber Wolf mount and a bear mount on Craigslist. The two ECOs contacted the seller that day and set up a time to meet and purchase the wolf mount. The following day, the two ECOs contacted the seller, who explained that his father would close the deal in his place. When asked how much he was asking for the wolf and bear mounts, the seller said it would be $1,200 for the wolf and $1,900 for the bear. Upon arrival in uniform and in a marked patrol vehicle, the two ECOs knocked on the door and identified themselves, stating “We are here for the Timber Wolf mount.” The bewildered father quickly realized why they were there and said, “Oh, you can just take it.” However, offering the six-foot mount for sale is illegal. The father showed the ECOs to the garage where the mount was being stored and explained that he had bought the pelt from a hunting guide in Saskatchewan, Canada, had it mounted there, and shipped to his office in Queens nearly 25 years ago. When the man brought it home, his wife said he needed to get rid of it. The father then asked his son to find a way to get rid of it, at which point the son placed the ad on Craigslist. The wolf mount was seized and the charges will be handled administratively by the Region 3 DLE office.
Motor Vehicle Accident – Westchester County
Civilian Response to Active Shooter Training – Albany County On Dec. 15, ECOs Claude Stephens and Peter Jackson presented Civilian Response to Active Shooter Event (CRASE) training to staff at DEC’s Central Office in Albany. The two-hour course provides civilian staff with information about active shooter events, the psychological process the human brain experiences during a disaster, and training on how to best prepare and react during an active shooter event. Topics included the history of active shooter events, civilian response options, medical issues, and considerations for conducting drills. DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement will be offering additional CRASE presentations at the Central Office, as well as in the regional offices.
Close Call – Oneida County On Dec. 15, ECO Jeff Hull came across a suspicious vehicle driving the back roads in the town of Ava. ECO Hull watched the vehicle as it performed an illegal U-turn and almost entered a ditch. The officer stopped the vehicle and the driver explained that she was searching for her husband who had driven his snowmobile into a pond in the area but was uncertain of his exact location. ECO Hull notified Oneida County Dispatch and EMS. Using his cell phone, ECO Hull then told the lost snowmobiler to call 911 to allow his phone to be pinged. Once his coordinates were obtained, ECO Hull narrowed down the area to be checked using his GPS. The subject was wet from head to toe and sounded as if he was in the beginning stages of shock. The subject could not see the patrol lights or hear the sirens of the units searching for him, but could see a house in the distance. ECO Hull advised the man to head toward the house after obtaining a description, distance, and direction. Within 10 minutes, the subject was met at the house by ECO Hull, EMS, and the New York State Police. He was checked out by EMS and determined to be uninjured, just wet and cold.
Striped Bass Out of Season – Queens and New York Counties
Odd Time to Scout for Deer – Niagara County On Dec.18, the second-to-last day of the southern zone muzzleloader season for deer, ECO George Scheer was conducting hunting checks in the town of Lewiston. While waiting for hunters to return to their vehicles, ECO Scheer observed an ATV cross the roadway and drive away. A nearby truck parked by the road had ATV ramps, and, shortly after sunset, ECO Scheer observed the ATV driving along the roadway toward the truck. When the operator observed the ECO, he quickly left the roadway and drove down a trail away from the truck. The Officer finished checking other hunters in the area, and waited for the ATV to return. Within 30 minutes, the ECO observed the interior lights of the truck turn on although the ATV had not returned. ECO Scheer found the man who had been operating the ATV in the truck. When asked about the ATV, the man claimed he had not been driving it, and his brother must have operated the vehicle. The subject added that he did not know his brother’s location. Upon further questioning, the subject admitted to driving the ATV, but claimed he was not hunting and was only scouting for deer. ECO Scheer told the man that it was an odd time to be scouting for deer as most hunters do so before the season, not on the second-to-last day of the season. The man asked if he could go get the ATV and bring it back to the truck, so ECO Scheer went with him to retrieve the ATV. During the walk to the ATV, the man advised ECO Scheer that he is a convicted felon but does not hunt with a firearm. When they arrived at the ATV, ECO Scheer located a tube of gunpowder and footprints that led away from the ATV to the wood line. Faced with this evidence, the man admitted to hunting with a muzzleloader and hiding it in the woods. The subject was charged with operating an unregistered ATV, operating an ATV without a helmet, operating an ATV on a highway, two counts of possessing tags of another, and criminal possession of a weapon, 4th degree. All of the charges are returnable to Town of Lewiston Court.
Facebook Strikes Again – Warren County
Bearly Made It – Rensselaer County
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Seized frozen venison
