ALBANY New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar welcomed 26 new graduates from the 24th Basic School for New York State Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs). As part of DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement, ECOs enforce the 71 chapters of New York’s Environmental Conservation Law that protect natural resources and public health. The ceremony held in Syracuse Dec. 20 celebrated the graduates who successfully completed an intensive six-month law enforcement training academy in the classroom and afield.