ECO TIMOTHY FAY HONORED AS TOP NEW YORK
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION OFFICER
Suffolk County Officer Receives Officer of the Year Award for Outstanding Service
Environmental Conservation Officer Timothy FayNew York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Timothy Fay received the 2016 “Officer of the Year” award from the Shikar-Safari Club International in a ceremony hosted by long-time Club member Robert Stackler, DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today.
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 Police Officer of the Year in all 50 states, 10 Canadian provinces and the territories of both nations, acknowledging the important part ECOs play in local, national, and international wildlife conservation.
ECO Fay grew up in the Town of Champlain in Clinton County and after graduating high school joined the US Army serving 21 years, retiring from the New York Army National Guard. He attended Buffalo State Collage graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree and Graduate work in Multidisciplinary Studies. He attended and graduated from the 17th Basic Academy for Uniformed Officers, a twenty-six week residential police academy held in 2007. After graduation Tim was assigned to Region 1 and patrolled Suffolk County enforcing New York’s Environmental Conservation Law, including investigating hunting, fishing and trapping activity, releases of petroleum, asbestos and other hazardous substances, water pollution, wetland damage, timber theft, wild animals unlawfully kept as pets, and commercial and recreational marine fishing.
ECO Fay keeps the mission of the Division of Law Enforcement (DLE) close to his heart, and thoroughly enjoys all the aspects of the mission, from tickets and arrest, to education, and especially outreaches. He is involved in the Youth Conservation Program, Youth Waterfowl Day and other youth oriented hunting and fishing outreaches.
ECO Fay maintains one of the most diverse enforcement programs in the Division. He is adept at all aspects of the Environmental Conservation Law. Additionally, he successfully networks with outside agencies and organizations, and he actively accepts outreach projects for the Division, helping to spread the word for protection of the environment and the State’s natural resources.
ECO Fay was recognized for numerous successful marine fish and wildlife investigations involving shellfish, crustacean and food fish. With his diverse workload, he was also responsible for multiple cases concerning the unlawful disposal of solid waste. This recognition also includes his work as a Field Training Officer, directing and guiding new officers in the field, locating, identifying, enforcing big game violations and bringing the charges to a successful resolution in court.
ECO Fay is trained and certified in many fields of work with the DEC Division of Law Enforcement. He is a Field training officer and a Firearms instructor, training new and current police officers inside the DEC as well as outside agencies. He is also as a member of the NYS DEC/DLE Special Operations Group (SOG) completing the DEC Basic Tactical Operator’s Course in 2015 and the SWAT Operator Course in 2016.
For the past 11 years, ECO Fay’s professional work ethic and commitment to his profession resulted in him being nominated and receiving the Shikar-Safari Club International Officer of the Year award. Tim resides in Northport in Suffolk County with his wife Anne and four daughters, Emily, Lauren, Nora and Valerie.