ECO Scott Steingart Honored as Top New York Wildlife Conservation Officer

Sullivan County Resident Receives Officer of the Year Award for Outstanding Service

ALBANY, NY (08/18/2010)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Scott Steingart has been selected the 2009 "Officer of the Year" by the Shikar-Safari Club International, DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today.

"DEC's Environmental Conservation Officers are on the front line daily in their efforts to protect our wildlife, natural resources and citizens. In ECO Steingart's extraordinary career here at DEC he has proven to be an intuitive, effective officer for the state and an advocate of the environment," Commissioner Grannis said. "I extend my congratulations to ECO Steingart on behalf of the entire department, and thank him for his dedication and hard work."

Shikar-Safari Club International was founded in 1952 by an international group of hunters interested in exchanging ideas about the sport. Each year, the club sponsors an award for the Wildlife Conservation Officer of the Year in all 50 U.S. states, 10 Canadian provinces and the territories of both nations, acknowledging the important role ECOs play in local, national, and international wildlife conservation.

ECO Steingart, currently stationed out of Sullivan County, was recognized for his dedication and contribution to wildlife conservation law enforcement during his 23-year career in DEC's Division of Law Enforcement. Steingart's duties encompass a variety of activities, including enforcing hunting, fishing and trapping laws, responding to releases of petroleum, asbestos and other hazardous substances, and investigating timber theft.

In 2006, Steingart was assigned to new K9 partner, Buck, and became a member of DEC's K9 Unit. Steingart and Buck have successfully concluded several cases in 2009, earning him the award.

In one of these cases, Steingart responded to a 911 call regarding a kidnapped seven-month-old baby at WalMart in Monticello, Sullivan County. ECO Steingart and Buck assisted local police agencies in tracking the baby's father to an abandoned building nearby. ECO Steingart found the baby face down and naked in the bushes and called emergency personnel. After further investigation and medical evaluation, the baby was found to have been sexually abused. The father was placed in custody and charged with numerous crimes. Steingart later said that finding that baby alive was the most rewarding experience in his DEC career.

In another noteworthy 2009 case, ECO Steingart assisted State Police in apprehending a suspect in a violent domestic incident when he and K9 Buck responded to a 911 "shots fired" broadcast regarding a woman being shot by her husband. Troopers and Steingart hiked uphill and took up a position covering the house and were able to keep the suspect contained until relieved four hours later. After a seven-hour standoff, the suspect was remanded to the Sullivan County Jail with no bail for Assault and Attempted Murder.

In yet another case, ECO Steingart and K9 Buck discovered evidence leading to a poaching arrest in Sullivan County. Acting on a State Police tip that four dead deer were being stored in a barn in Bethel, Steingart and Buck went to work and discovered the nearby kill location. Steingart, along with other officers, arrested the suspect for three illegal and one improperly tagged deer and for taking deer with the aid of bait. The suspect later pleaded guilty and settled the case for a $3,260 penalty.

In addition to his field duties, ECO Steingart has instructed courses in vehicle and traffic/snowmobile law, snowmobile tactical courses and accident investigation at many ECO basic schools and municipal police academies. He has investigated numerous fatal and serious injuries involving snowmobile, ATV, skiing and hunter related shooting incidents. Since 1993, Steingart has been instructing youths attending DEC Camp DeBruce in ECO history, laws and basic firearms safety.

In his spare time, Steingart enjoys fishing, camping, and NASCAR with his family. He resides in Sullivan County with his wife, Lisa, sons Ehren and Christopher, step-sons Tyler and Travis, and step-daughter Ashlynn.