Environmental Conservation Police Officers

New York State has about 300 Environmental Conservation Officers

(ECOs) and Investigators (ECIs) who work throughout the state, including New York City. ECOs spend most of their time patrolling within their assigned county.

The assistance of the public is essential to the effective enforcement of State environmental laws and regulations. If you observe someone violating Environmental Conservation Law or see the results of a violation, REPORT IT! Poachers and polluters are thieves, stealing from you, our fellow anglers, and future generations. Those who pollute our air or water, destroy our environment, or ignore fish and wildlife laws are criminals.

Contact an Environmental Conservation Police Officer (ECO)

For general questions, call 1-877-457-5680. You will speak with a dispatcher who will assist you or connect you to an ECO. For best service, let them know the area you are calling from or the area your question is about.

Report All Poachers and Polluters

Call 1-844-DEC-ECOS (844-332-3267). You will speak to a dispatcher who will assist you in filing a complaint. You may ask to have your name kept confidential, or you may ask to file the complaint without leaving a name (anonymously). Complaints are forwarded to an ECO for investigation. The more detailed information you provide, the more likely the violator will be apprehended. Try to remember the “who, what, where, when, and how” of the event.

• Keep a distance from the violator. Do not approach or attempt to confront suspects. They may be dangerous, destroy evidence, or simply evade officers if forewarned.
• Who did it? Provide names, ages, sex, height, weight, clothing or vehicle descriptions, and other details.
• What occurred? What exactly do you think is the nature of the violation? Examples — taking over limit of fish, snagging, illegal netting, fishing out of season, trespassing.
• When did it occur? Provide dates and times. Is it still in progress, ongoing, or something yet to happen? Examples— happening right now, happens every Friday night.
• Where did it occur? Provide street addresses, town/county, name of stream, river, or pond, GPS location. Many fishing violations occur on large waterways, so specific locations are valuable. Examples — at the north end of the spillway on Smith Creek Dam, near red buoy 32 on Reynolds Channel.
• How did it occur? What methods or circumstances were used to commit the violations? Provide any other information the ECO may find useful.

Environmental Conservation Officer Rosters

For the current listing of Environmental Conservation Officers by Region, please visit dec.ny.gov/about/contact-us/ environmental-conservation-officer-rosters.

Scan this QR code with your phone for direct access to ECO phone numbers.