Dec. 20—A local man is among New York’s newest environmental conservation police officers.
State Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar on Friday welcomed 26 new graduates from the 24th Basic School for New York State Environmental Conservation Police Officers, according to a news release from the department. As part of DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement, ECOs enforce the 71 chapters of New York’s Environmental Conservation Law that protect natural resources and public health. The ceremony held in Syracuse “celebrated the graduates who successfully completed an intensive six-month law enforcement training academy in the classroom and afield,” the release said.
Keenan Holliday, of Milford, was among those graduates.
“I congratulate this new class of New York State ECOs for enduring a demanding training regimen to join one of the most elite police forces in the nation,” Mahar said. “As these new Officers begin their careers, I am confident they will each carry on the rich legacy of protecting New York’s natural resources and public health and safety by holding lawbreakers accountable for environmental crimes and making a positive difference in communities across the state.”
DEC Division of Law Enforcement Director Karen Przyklek said, “Originally called Game Protectors when first appointed for service in 1880, ECOs are highly trained police officers who specialize in investigating and solving environmental crimes to ensure the protection of New York’s land, water, air, and animal species, as well as every New York resident and visitor. I am eager to welcome these new Officers to our ranks and challenge them to put in the hard work and dedication necessary to safeguard our natural resources, hold polluters accountable, and connect with their communities each and every day.”
According to the release, recruits were immersed for six months in training at the ECO training academy in Pulaski, in Oswego County. DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement trains recruits in conventional areas of law enforcement such as criminal procedure law and vehicle and traffic law, as well as specialized courses in environmental conservation law, wildlife identification and wildlife forensics. The recruits also engaged in physical training, defensive tactics, firearms and emergency vehicle operations, among other courses. The 26 graduates will join the state’s force for a total of 290 ECOs statewide.
Upon graduation, DEC assigns recruits to patrol areas across the state. In 2023, ECOs and investigators responded to more than 30,932 complaints, according to the release. Cases resulted in nearly 16,900 tickets or arrests for violations ranging from deer poaching to solid waste dumping, illegal mining and excessive emissions violations.