Environment DEC
From the October 2007 issue
Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigations Restructured
To boost environmental crime-fighting efforts, DEC has restructured its Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigations (BECI), a unit that focuses on high-level and statewide criminal operations. Commissioner Grannis named Charles Johncox-a 26-year veteran of the DLE-major and statewide BECI coordinator, and Scott Florence-an experienced BECI investigator-captain.
Captain Scott FlorenceMajor Johncox and Captain Florence will direct and oversee BECI investigators across the state, work to enhance the intelligence unit within the Division of Law Enforcement and coordinate the bureau's various undercover operations. These officers also will interact on a more regular basis with other law-enforcement agencies, including the State Police, the state Attorney General's Office and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
History of BECI
The BECI was established in 1982. Historically, the BECI has focused on felony-level criminal activity, investigating cases involving large-scale, hazardous-waste dumping, endangered-species trafficking, illegal fish trafficking and money laundering in the solid-waste industry. For example, in the early 90s, the unit investigated what was then the largest waste-oil processor in the nation, discovering that the company was mixing hazardous waste with oil and selling it as heating fuel and automobile oil. That case triggered felony convictions and fines topping $6 million. In 1996-97, BECI investigators worked undercover to infiltrate a wholesale business that shipped contaminated and illegally caught fish worldwide.
Beginning in 1996, BECI was gradually scaled down as part of a reorganization effort. At that time, the positions of BECI major and BECI captain were eliminated, and lieutenants and investigators were reassigned to regional offices. Currently, there are 37 lieutenants and investigators, down from a high of 42 in 1998.
