PULASKI, N.Y. — On May 22, 20 new environmental conservation police officer (ECO) recruits from 15 counties across New York state, began their 29-week training at the Pulaski Academy in Oswego County. Recruits will log 1,520 hours of training in how to perform ECO job duties centered on enforcing the 71 chapters of New York […]
PULASKI, N.Y. — On May 22, 20 new environmental conservation police officer (ECO) recruits from 15 counties across New York state, began their 29-week training at the Pulaski Academy in Oswego County.
Recruits will log 1,520 hours of training in how to perform ECO job duties centered on enforcing the 71 chapters of New York State Environmental Conservation Law (ECL). Responsibilities range from policing deer poaching to solid-waste dumping, illegal mining, black market pet trade, and emissions violations.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Division of Law Enforcement enforces the 71 chapters of the state’s ECL, protecting fish and wildlife and preserving environmental quality across New York. In 2021, 282 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.