For Release: Friday, April 15, 2005
Cattaraugus County ECO Named Officer of the Year
Captain Gary L. Bobseine Receives 2004 State Rifle and Pistol Association Law Enforcement Award
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan today announced that Captain Gary L. Bobseine of Cattaraugus County has been named the 2004 New York State Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) of the Year by the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association.
"Captain Bobseine is a wonderful choice for this award and is well deserving of this recognition," Commissioner Sheehan said. "His knowledge and enforcement of environmental law and natural resource conservation have made him a great ECO and an outstanding example and teacher to our youth."
The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association (NYSRPA) recognizes one ECO each year, acknowledging the important role ECOs play in hunter education and safe firearms usage among sportsmen and women and youth. NYSRPA is the State's leading organization in promoting rifle marksmanship and competition. The Association strives to recognize those who promote and personally participate in marksmanship competitions, and who encourage such participation by New York's youth. Captain Bobseine was selected by a statewide committee of New York State ECOs to receive this recognition.
Captain Bobseine began his career in 1973 as a Park Police Officer with the Allegany State Park Commission. In 1980 he joined the 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 Captain 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 been an active police pistol competitor for the last 30 years, competing in the NYS Police Olympics, National Rifle Association (NRA) Regional matches, the Chautauqua County Police Combat Pistol League and was the organizer for the NYS Conservation Officer's Association Police Pistol Combat matches. Captain Bobseine has also been an active competitor in hi-power rifle competition for the last 18 years and a small bore competitor for two years. Captain Bobseine has competed at National matches at Camp Perry, Ohio; Camp Smith, NY; Olean, NY; and has competed 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 is also a hunter safety educator. He has volunteered and coached at the NRA Youth Hunter Education Challenge for two years, has volunteered at the Ducks Unlimited Greenwing Days for five years; and is a volunteer DEC Hunter Safety Instructor.
"Captain Bobseine leads by example, having raised five children who each carry on his love of the outdoors, hunting, trapping, and competitive shooting," Commissioner Sheehan continued.
Captain Bobseine lives in Cattaraugus with his wife Jan. They have five children - Liza, Polly, Katy, Ike and Gallager. Four of his children 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 and his daughter Polly, U.S. Air Force, Airman 1st Class, was the Moody Air Force Base Intra Service Trap Champion.
The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association (NYSRPA) is the State's largest and oldest firearms advocacy organization. Since 1871, NYSRPA has promoted gun owner 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.
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