NYC Department of Environmental Protection Jobs

ECOs checking wetland violations

Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) are sworn police officers involved in the enforcement of the Environmental Conservation Law in order to protect the State's natural resources and environment. They investigate complaints in order to detect and document both state and federal Environmental Conservation Law felonies, misdemeanors and violations. Environmental conservation officers meet with school groups, service groups, regulated community and hunter's and angler's clubs to promote compliance with environmental conservation law, which includes fish and wildlife law. At times, they are expected to work long and irregular hours on outdoor patrols. ECOs are required to carry a firearm.

Job Qualifications:

1. A bachelor's, or higher level degree including or supplemented by 18 semester credit hours in any combination of courses indicated below as qualifying course work; OR

2. An associate's degree including or supplemented by 18 semester credit hours in any combination of courses indicated below as qualifying course work; AND one of the following:

1. one year of experience in the areas of freshwater or marine sciences, wildlife sciences, forestry*, environmental engineering, or environmental technology*; or
2. one year of experience as a police officer with Municipal Police Training Course certification (or equivalent course approved by the New York State Municipal Police Training Council), or as a certified federal law enforcement officer. A certified Peace Officer Training Course does not satisfy this requirement; or
3. two years of active United States military service with an honorable discharge

Qualifying coursework: natural resource conservation, environmental science, environmental studies or a similar environmental program, natural science, physical science or criminal justice. Substitution: Up to 6 semester credit hours in computer science may be used to meet the 18 semester credit hour requirement. Please note: specific college course work requirements are being reviewed and may change

* Examples of experience that will qualify as Forestry experience are: tree physiology, silviculture, dendrology, mensuration, the planning and supervision of disease and insect control, marketing of timber products, and timber cruising.

* Qualifying experience in Environmental Technology must be at a paraprofessional or higher level in areas such as solid and hazardous waste, remediation, or pollution prevention.