New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police

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 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.[2]

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.

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 his or her 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.[3]

Since the establishment of the New York State Game Protectors, ten officers have died while on duty.[4][5]

• 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

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