WESTERN DISTRICT
Pre-Season Fishing Enforcement
Western District EnCon Police officers responded to 83 pre-season fishing complaints between April 1 and April 18. Of the 83 complaints, EnCon Police officers issued 32 infractions and 23 written warnings for various sport fishing violations.
Rescue in State Park
On 4/22/08, EnCon Police Officers responded to a rescue call at Lovers Leap State Park in New Milford. A 20 year- old male was walking along the edge of one of the steep drop-offs in the park and fell 40 feet down the slope. The subject was rescued by the New Milford Fire Department and transported to St Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury by Life Star helicopter.
Fatal Boating Accident
On 4/24/08, EnCon Police Officers responded to a report of a boating accident on Woodridge Lake in Goshen. Sgt. James Warren, Officers Paul Hilli, Ralph Concepcion and Holly Bernier responded. The 63 year -old victim had been alone, in an anchored canoe, fishing. Weather conditions at the time were clear, but extremely windy. The canoe overturned and the victim was thrown into the water. The investigation revealed that the victim was not wearing a personal floatation device and drowned while trying to swim to shore.
Presidential Security Detail
On 4/25/08, President George W. Bush visited Connecticut and it included a luncheon event at the home of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in Kent. Secretary Kissinger’s property is bordered by state forest land. EnCon Police were detailed with providing security on DEP property to prevent any unauthorized access to the Kissinger property. While patrolling the forest area on an ATV EnCon Police Officers Paul Hilli and Tim Hill located a suspicious electronic device hanging in a tree. The US Secret Service responded and determined that the device was an electronic package from a weather balloon that had landed in a tree in the forest.
Untimely Death in State Park
On 4/26/08, EnCon Police responded to Reservoir #1 in Naugatuck State Forest in Oxford to a report of an untimely death. A 15 year- old male accidentally hung himself while swimming with friends in the reservoir. EnCon Police Officer Steven Stanko and the Connecticut State Police are investigating the incident.
Illegal Fishing Tournaments
A number of complaints were received that indicated that there were a number of fishing tournaments scheduled to take place at Ball Pond in New Fairfield and none of the tournaments had permits. On 4/27/08, EnCon Police Officer Sean Buckley located 5 subjects at Ball Pond apparently involved in a tournament without a permit. The 5 subjects were issued infractions and written warnings for various fishing and boating violations.
MARINE DISTRICT
Illegal Stripers
During the month of April, EnCon Police Officer Samorajczyk and Hey aggressively worked the Housatonic River in Stratford and Milford on striped bass enforcement. The two officers arrested twenty subjects in possession of striped bass less than the legal length. A great deal of surveillance time was spent on each of these arrests because in each of the cases, the anglers hid the fish as soon as they were caught. A total of ninety-four striped bass were seized.
Lobster Outreach Program
On 4/13/08, the D.E.P.’s State Environmental Conservation Police and Marine Fisheries Division hosted a recreational lobster training seminar at D.E.P. Headquarters in Old Lyme. The seminar was for people holding personal use lobster licenses, which allows them to set up to ten lobster traps or scuba dive for lobsters. This license does not allow them to sell the lobster they catch. The lead presenters were EnCon Police Sgt. Ryan Healy and Marine Fisheries biologist Colleen Giannini. They covered topics of license requirements, gauging lobsters, lobster trap specifications, identification of egg-bearing and v-notched lobsters and reporting requirements. Two sessions were held because over 100 hundred people registered for the two hour seminar. There were lobster pots and buoys on display and live lobsters so the participants were able to see the proper method of gauging, sexing and see a “v-notched” lobster, a new program just started in Connecticut to help rebuild the lobster population in Long Island Sound. Sgt. Healy, who was a commercial lobstermen prior to becoming a Conservation Officer, gave advice on how new recreational lobstermen should bait and fish their lobster traps and on safety equipment requirements.
Attempted Suicide
On 4/16/08, EnCon Police Officers Tavares and Reilly responded to Hammonasset Beach State Park on a report from Branford Police Dept. that a female may be attempting to commit suicide in the park. Officer Tavares found the subject’s vehicle in the Nature Center parking lot and found a female lying down in the front driver’s seat of the vehicle. The female had taken a quantity of pills and Officer Tavares call for an ambulance. The subject was taken to the Shoreline Clinic in Essex for treatment and evaluation.
EASTERN DISTRICT
Stolen Motorcycles
EnCon Police Officers Myers and Danielson were both working separate incidents in April involving defaced/obliterated identification numbers on motorcycles. Officer Myers recovered a motorcycle in Cockaponset State Forest in Haddam that was stolen out of Middlefield and Officer Danielson recovered a motorcycle that was in Bolton Notch State Park. Both cases are still being investigated.
Narcotics Arrests
EnCon Police Officer Arseneault arrested two individuals in Pachaug State Forest on the 4/12/08 for violation of hours, as well as possession of marijuana and paraphernalia and on 4/26/08 he arrested four individuals for violation of hours, two of whom were arrested for possession of marijuana/paraphernalia, also in Pachaug State Forest. EnCon Police Officer Ruggerio arrested one of two individuals he encountered in Wadsworth Falls State Park on the 4/16/08 for possession of marijuana/paraphernalia. That person was a youthful offender.
Fishing Violations
Eastern District Officers had a busy month issuing 52 fishing infractions and 60 written warnings for a variety of offenses including short Striped Bass, illegal use of River Herring, pre-season fishing and no licenses. EnCon Police Officer Golet was particularly busy on 4/14/08 at Indian Leap in Norwich where he issued seven infractions that day alone.
All Terrain Vehicles
Eastern District Officers issued 31 infractions for ATV violations in the month of April. Of particular note was the apprehension of 11 non-resident operators on 4/20 by Sergeant Enright and Officer Danielson in the area of Route 198 in Woodstock, which has been the subject of numerous complaints.
_________________
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police
Captain Raul Camejo
Pre-Season Fishing Enforcement
Western District EnCon Police officers responded to 83 pre-season fishing complaints between April 1 and April 18. Of the 83 complaints, EnCon Police officers issued 32 infractions and 23 written warnings for various sport fishing violations.
Rescue in State Park
On 4/22/08, EnCon Police Officers responded to a rescue call at Lovers Leap State Park in New Milford. A 20 year- old male was walking along the edge of one of the steep drop-offs in the park and fell 40 feet down the slope. The subject was rescued by the New Milford Fire Department and transported to St Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury by Life Star helicopter.
Fatal Boating Accident
On 4/24/08, EnCon Police Officers responded to a report of a boating accident on Woodridge Lake in Goshen. Sgt. James Warren, Officers Paul Hilli, Ralph Concepcion and Holly Bernier responded. The 63 year -old victim had been alone, in an anchored canoe, fishing. Weather conditions at the time were clear, but extremely windy. The canoe overturned and the victim was thrown into the water. The investigation revealed that the victim was not wearing a personal floatation device and drowned while trying to swim to shore.
Presidential Security Detail
On 4/25/08, President George W. Bush visited Connecticut and it included a luncheon event at the home of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in Kent. Secretary Kissinger’s property is bordered by state forest land. EnCon Police were detailed with providing security on DEP property to prevent any unauthorized access to the Kissinger property. While patrolling the forest area on an ATV EnCon Police Officers Paul Hilli and Tim Hill located a suspicious electronic device hanging in a tree. The US Secret Service responded and determined that the device was an electronic package from a weather balloon that had landed in a tree in the forest.
Untimely Death in State Park
On 4/26/08, EnCon Police responded to Reservoir #1 in Naugatuck State Forest in Oxford to a report of an untimely death. A 15 year- old male accidentally hung himself while swimming with friends in the reservoir. EnCon Police Officer Steven Stanko and the Connecticut State Police are investigating the incident.
Illegal Fishing Tournaments
A number of complaints were received that indicated that there were a number of fishing tournaments scheduled to take place at Ball Pond in New Fairfield and none of the tournaments had permits. On 4/27/08, EnCon Police Officer Sean Buckley located 5 subjects at Ball Pond apparently involved in a tournament without a permit. The 5 subjects were issued infractions and written warnings for various fishing and boating violations.
MARINE DISTRICT
Illegal Stripers
During the month of April, EnCon Police Officer Samorajczyk and Hey aggressively worked the Housatonic River in Stratford and Milford on striped bass enforcement. The two officers arrested twenty subjects in possession of striped bass less than the legal length. A great deal of surveillance time was spent on each of these arrests because in each of the cases, the anglers hid the fish as soon as they were caught. A total of ninety-four striped bass were seized.
Lobster Outreach Program
On 4/13/08, the D.E.P.’s State Environmental Conservation Police and Marine Fisheries Division hosted a recreational lobster training seminar at D.E.P. Headquarters in Old Lyme. The seminar was for people holding personal use lobster licenses, which allows them to set up to ten lobster traps or scuba dive for lobsters. This license does not allow them to sell the lobster they catch. The lead presenters were EnCon Police Sgt. Ryan Healy and Marine Fisheries biologist Colleen Giannini. They covered topics of license requirements, gauging lobsters, lobster trap specifications, identification of egg-bearing and v-notched lobsters and reporting requirements. Two sessions were held because over 100 hundred people registered for the two hour seminar. There were lobster pots and buoys on display and live lobsters so the participants were able to see the proper method of gauging, sexing and see a “v-notched” lobster, a new program just started in Connecticut to help rebuild the lobster population in Long Island Sound. Sgt. Healy, who was a commercial lobstermen prior to becoming a Conservation Officer, gave advice on how new recreational lobstermen should bait and fish their lobster traps and on safety equipment requirements.
Attempted Suicide
On 4/16/08, EnCon Police Officers Tavares and Reilly responded to Hammonasset Beach State Park on a report from Branford Police Dept. that a female may be attempting to commit suicide in the park. Officer Tavares found the subject’s vehicle in the Nature Center parking lot and found a female lying down in the front driver’s seat of the vehicle. The female had taken a quantity of pills and Officer Tavares call for an ambulance. The subject was taken to the Shoreline Clinic in Essex for treatment and evaluation.
EASTERN DISTRICT
Stolen Motorcycles
EnCon Police Officers Myers and Danielson were both working separate incidents in April involving defaced/obliterated identification numbers on motorcycles. Officer Myers recovered a motorcycle in Cockaponset State Forest in Haddam that was stolen out of Middlefield and Officer Danielson recovered a motorcycle that was in Bolton Notch State Park. Both cases are still being investigated.
Narcotics Arrests
EnCon Police Officer Arseneault arrested two individuals in Pachaug State Forest on the 4/12/08 for violation of hours, as well as possession of marijuana and paraphernalia and on 4/26/08 he arrested four individuals for violation of hours, two of whom were arrested for possession of marijuana/paraphernalia, also in Pachaug State Forest. EnCon Police Officer Ruggerio arrested one of two individuals he encountered in Wadsworth Falls State Park on the 4/16/08 for possession of marijuana/paraphernalia. That person was a youthful offender.
Fishing Violations
Eastern District Officers had a busy month issuing 52 fishing infractions and 60 written warnings for a variety of offenses including short Striped Bass, illegal use of River Herring, pre-season fishing and no licenses. EnCon Police Officer Golet was particularly busy on 4/14/08 at Indian Leap in Norwich where he issued seven infractions that day alone.
All Terrain Vehicles
Eastern District Officers issued 31 infractions for ATV violations in the month of April. Of particular note was the apprehension of 11 non-resident operators on 4/20 by Sergeant Enright and Officer Danielson in the area of Route 198 in Woodstock, which has been the subject of numerous complaints.
_________________
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police
Captain Raul Camejo