Environment DEC
From the May 2005 issue
ECOs Named Environmental Conservation Officers of 2003 and 2004
Captain Gary Bobseine has shown outstanding dedication in his 32 years of law enforcement
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan announced that ECO Brian Shea of Monroe County and Captain Gary L. Bobseine of Cattaraugus County have been named the New York State Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) of the Year for 2003 and 2004 respectively by the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association (NYSRPA). "ECOs Shea and Bobseine are well deserving of this award," Commissioner Sheehan said. "Their dedication to both environmental law and natural resource conservation have made both of them outstanding teachers to new ECOs as well as to hunters and our youth."
NYSRPA recognizes an ECO each year, acknowledging the important role that ECOs play in hunter education and safe firearms usage among sportsmen and youth. ECOs Shea and Bobdseine were selected by statewide ECO committees to receive this honor.
ECO Brian Shea
Shea has been an ECO since 1989 and has worked in DEC's Region 2 (New York City) and Region 8 (Avon). One of his most significant cases during his career was the undercover sting of a Bronx County license issuing agent who was selling hunter safety certificates to people who had not taken the required training. Shea made an undercover buy of a hunter education certificate while wearing a wire. The evidence gathered during the investigation resulted in a conviction of forgery and theft of services.
A certified police instructor, ECO Shea also is an Emergency Vehicle Operators Course instructor, and Physical Tactics/Defensive Tactics instructor. He frequently teaches at the DEC Academy in Oswego, and he is a founding member of the Division of Law Enforcement's Honor Guard.
ECO Shea is very active in the Sportsmen Education Program in Monroe County. For the past three years, he has co-instructed an average of 30 courses each year in Hunter Education and Outdoor Safety. He typically delivers lectures to the classes on fish and wildlife law and hunting ethics. Shea also participates in range instruction for most of these classes, teaching new shooters basic marksmanship skills.
Family and Personal Interests
A hunter and sportsman in his own right, Shea enjoys spending time afield with his son Daniel, age 9, teaching him the skills and ethics of a responsible hunter and shooter. Shea lives in Rochester with his wife Laura and daughter Erin. He is an active member of the Genesee Conservation League; Mumford Beagle Club; Rochester Rifle Club; Northstar Rod and Gun Club; St. Mary's Hunting/Fishing Club; Whitetail Farms, Inc.; Irondequoit Fish and Game Club, and the National Rifle Association.
Shea is a frequent keynote speaker at sportsmen awards dinners in Monroe County and is very active in conducting environmental education classes in several Monroe County schools. There he has the opportunity to promote hunting as a legal, ethical, and cost-effective means of controlling the wildlife populations in his mostly suburban patrol sector.
Captain Gary L. Bobseine
Captain Bobseine began his career in 1973 as a Park Police Officer with the Allegany State Park Commission. In 1980 he joined DEC as an ECO. In the fall of 1982, the Bureau of Environmental Conservation Investigations (BECI) was formed, and Captain Bobseine became an Environmental Conservation Investigator. He rose to Lieutenant and then Captain in the Western District BECI Office, serving as Captain from 1987 to 1999.
In 1999, Captain Bobseine transferred from his BECI position to his current position of Chief Environmental Conservation Officer (Captain) in Region 9. He currently oversees both the uniformed officers and BECI investigators working in the six counties of DEC Region 9. Captain Bobseine has organized the New York State Conservation Officer's Association police pistol combat matches and is a volunteer DEC Hunter Safety Instructor as well.
Family and Personal Interests
Captain Bobseine and his wife Jan have five children, four of whom are hi-power rifle competitors and compete locally as well as on the state level. Three have competed at regional and national competitions for small-bore rifle. Their daughter Polly, an Airman First Class in the U.S. Air Force, was the Moody Air Force Base Intra-Service Trap Champion.The Captain has been an active police pistol competitor for the last 30 years, competing in the NYS Police Olympics, National Rifle Association (NRA) regional matches and the Chautauqua County Police Combat Pistol League. In addition, he has been a competitor in hi-power rifle competition for the last 18 years and a small-bore competitor for 2 years. He has competed in national matches and at the regional and local level as well. He is an Endowment Member of the NRA and a member of NYSRPA, the Ellicottville Sportsmen's Association and the New York State Trappers Association.
Captain Bobseine is a Lifetime Sportsmen's license holder and an active trapper, competing in local trap leagues near his home and in the Shandaken Primitive Biathlon for seven years. He has volunteered and coached at the NRA Youth Hunter Education Challenge for two years and has volunteered at the Ducks Unlimited Greenwing Days for five years.
NYSRPA
NYSRPA is the state's largest and oldest firearms advocacy organization. Since 1871, it has been dedicated to the preservation of hunter rights, firearm safety, education and training, and the shooting sports. Membership consists of individuals and clubs throughout the state. It is a not-for-profit, 501(c)4 organization and the official NRA-affiliated state association in New York.
NYSRPA also is the leading organization in New York State in promoting rifle marksmanship and competition. It strives to recognize those who promote and personally participate in marksmanship competitions, and who encourage such participation by New York's youth.
