DEC DLE Investigator’s Testimony Rebroadcasted

Friday, January 17, 2014

For those of you that were not able to view Department of Environmental Conservation Police Investigator Cynthia Harcher’s testimony, given on behalf of the PBA, at a legislative hearing yesterday, you should know that the Assembly is broadcasting the hearing in its entirety right now.  This hearing was to examine the effectiveness of New York’s restrictions on the sale of ivory; as you know the desire for ivory on the black market has caused the slaughter of thousands of African elephants each year and they are severely endangered.  

This hearing has already had positive effects.  This New York Times article from today’s edition both began and ended by noting that even though New York City has the largest market for illegal ivory in the United States, there are only three Department of Environmental Conservation Police Investigators assigned to investigate these crimes.  What it didn’t say is that is in addition to all of their other areas of responsibility.  The article prominently featured ENCON Lieutenant John Fitzpatrick, who also testified at the hearing.  His testimony, as well as that of Major Scott Florence, was before Investigator Harcher’s, so log on now if you wish to see all of the testimony.

We estimate Investigator Harcher’s testimony will be shown soon after 1:30pm today.  The video will be available for viewing on demand after Assembly staff edits it and adds closed captioning, perhaps as soon as later this afternoon or next week.  Until that happens, you can catch her testimony via the streaming link which can be found here.  http://nystateassembly.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=854 

Thank you Investigator Harcher, Lieutenant Fitzpatrick, and Major Florence for testifying at such an important hearing which underscored the need for more DEC basic school academies to ensure a fully staffed Division of Law Enforcement.