Environmental Conservation Officer
Job Description:
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:
- one year of experience in the areas of freshwater or marine sciences, wildlife sciences, forestry*, environmental engineering, or environmental technology*; or
- 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
- 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.
* 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.
Environmental Conservation Officers are expected to maintain a minimal standard of physical fitness. Besides the physical agility portion of the physical-medical requirements, Environmental Conservation Officers will be expected to demonstrate their physical fitness on a regular basis. Prior to appointment, candidates must pass a physical-medical examination, and have excellent moral character and habits, and pass a physical agility test.
Candidates will also be required to demonstrate an ability to swim during the trainee period. Candidates must possess a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State at the time of appointment. Conviction of a felony, misdemeanor or other violation of law may bar examination and appointment.
Salary & Traineeship:
An ECO is hired as an ECO Trainee 1. All ECO Trainee 1's must complete a 26-week residential basic training academy. This academy emphasizes police skills as well as the technical aspects of environmental law enforcement. They 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.
Currently the hiring rate for ECO Trainee 1 is $40,859. After completing 30 weeks as an ECO Trainee 1, the salary increases to $42,876. After an additional 22 weeks and progression to ECO Trainee 2, the salary increases to $44,933. Upon completion of the 2-year traineeship, the salary is $47,111.
Additional compensation for expanded duty pay, hazardous material pay, marine/off road enforcement, clothing allowance and pre-shift briefings can increase the base salaries an additional $6,000.
NOTE: A proposal to increase the salary structure for Environmental Conservation Officer is currently under review. Also, it is anticipated that negotiated agreements with Council 82 will result in a cost of living increase.
Work Location:
These positions exist in the Department of Environmental Conservation throughout the State. Upon completion of the training academy, ECO Trainees bid on available assigned patrol areas and work out of their residence in the assigned patrol area. Upon appointment and at all times the location of an ECO's residence would have to be acceptable to the Department of Environmental Conservation. New York State residency must be maintained.
Promotional Opportunities:
ECOs qualify to take the promotional examination for Environmental Conservation Investigator 1, Environmental Conservation Investigator 2 and Supervising ECO. Further promotional opportunities are available through competitive examination and satisfactory experience.The career ladder continues to include: Chief Environmental Conservation Officer; Environmental Conservation Investigator 4, Assistant Director Division of Law Enforcement and Director Division of Law Enforcement.
Application Procedures:
The position of Environmental Conservation Officer Trainee is filled through the use of eligible lists resulting from a written examination administered by the Department of Civil Service. The examination is generally held every other year, with the next examination being tentatively scheduled for late 2009. For additional information on Civil Service Examinations, see the offsite links to "Civil Service Exam Announcements," "Civil Service Exam Notification," and "Civil Service FAQ's" on the right side of this page.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer
