By Ellen Bagley, Physical Education Teacher for the Big Picture Learning program located at the Elm Street Academy in Cuba (NY)
Mr. Jason Powers, an Environmental Conservation Officer
(ECO), came to visit our Big Picture Program at the Cuba Elm Street building on
Tuesday, March 12, 2019. Mr. Powers
described the variety of careers that are performed for those interested in
becoming an ECO. To my surprise, we had
24 students/teachers attend the presentation.
Jason gave each student a pamphlet that described many of
the possibilities available to them if they pursued this career. He also explained his daily routines,
scheduling, salary, travel, personal experiences, the pros and cons of his
position, and much more. The students
were able to ask questions as well. My
advisory came up with a list of 22 questions to ask, so each student had an
opportunity to think of a question or ask one from the sheet.
The opportunity to experience careers in depth is great for
the students. High school can be hard and thinking about the future is not
always easy. Some may pursue a career they know and are comfortable with. Some may take whatever is available at the
time of graduation. Others plan ahead.
It doesn’t matter what route you take, as long as you are happy and feel
successful. I think it is very important for students to be able to experience
a variety of career options, because there is always something new out there
that could intrigue them just enough to develop a new set of goals, a different
plan, a future that they may have never seen possible.
Division of Law Enforcement Responsibilities FISH AND WILDLIFE
ENFORCEMENT
* Endangered and threatened species
* Commercial freshwater and marine fisheries
* Shellfish
* Trespass
* Taxidermy
* Hunting, fishing, trapping including the investigation of
all hunting-related shootings
Division of Law Enforcement Responsibilities ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY ENFORCEMENT
* Water pollution
* Air pollution
* Oil and chemical spills
* Stream protection
* Unauthorized disturbances to regulated marine and
freshwater wetlands
* Mining
* Solid waste regulation, and hazardous waste disposal
* Illegal demolition
* Enforcement of returnable containers
* Banned or restricted pesticide sales
Environmental Conservation Officers are at the forefront of
New York’s effort to keep our air and water clean, protect our natural
resources, and make the environment a better place for all. ECOs are police officers specializing in the
state’s natural resources and environment carrying a 130-year tradition of
excellence.
DO YOU:
Care about protecting our natural resources and preserving
environmental quality?
Value being part of an organization that seeks
self-motivated professionals?
Look forward to meeting new challenges that arise day to
day, season to season?
Want a career with unparalleled job security, outstanding
medical benefits, a secure retirement plan, and the opportunity for
advancement?
DUTIES:
* ECOs enforce the environmental laws and regulations of New
York State and also have the authority to enforce all other state laws such as
penal, vehicle and traffic, transportation, agriculture and markets, and
navigation laws, as well as regulations for operating snowmobiles and ATVs.
* Officers work with state, federal and even international
agencies on investigations. To enforce
fishing regulations and clean water laws, ECOs conduct patrol by boat, using
vessels up to 44 feet long off the shores of Long Island and New York City, as
well as smaller vessels on freshwater rivers and lakes.
ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES INVESTIGATION:
The Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigation (BECI) is a
special investigative unit within the division of law enforcement. BECI officers investigate complex criminal
offenses of the Environmental Conservation Law, conduct undercover probes into
illegal wildlife trafficking, and pursue serious environmental quality
crimes. These specialized officers often
work jointly with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and other agencies to uncover environmental crimes at the
federal level.
K-9 Detector Dogs:
* K-9 units composed of highly trained detector dogs and
handlers are valuable members of the law enforcement team. Detector dogs are certified to detect
concealed weapons and illegally taken wildlife as well as track lost/wanted
missing persons. Directed by their
handlers, the dogs search vehicles and crime scenes to recover evidence such as
guns, knives, shell casings and wildlife.
Handlers and dogs undergo training and certification together. Each dog is permanently assigned to one handler
and lives in the handlers’ home.
Training Academy:
* Every year, new legislation is passed and signed into law,
creating new challenges for ECOs. To
meet these challenges, the Division of Law Enforcement maintains its own police
training academy, where ECOs receive basic police training, and return for advanced
training in specialized areas of environmental enforcement.
