DEP Recognizes Local Conservation Officers

The state’s Department of Environmental Protection recognized two local conservation officers during a ceremony Wednesday at Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill.

Officer Stephen Stanko of East Hampton was recognized by the agency as its Conservation Officer of the Year, and Officer Harold Lindo  of East Haddam was given the agency’s Medal for Outstanding Service during the ceremonies.

The Conservation Officer of the Year Award is given annually to an officer in the DEP’s Division of State Environmental Conservation Police who has exhibited exemplary and enthusiastic performance throughout the year in their efforts to protect the state’s natural resources.

Stanko has been with the division since February of 2007, recently taking assignment in the Marine District following his early yeas in the Western District.

A veteran police officer who previously served with the East Hampton and Middletown departments, Stanko has always shown high enthusiasm in his job, DEP officials said in a press release.

“His extensive police background and willingness to learn new tasks and procedures have helped him complete many types and complexities of marine cases, as well as having one of the highest case loads in the marine district.”

Some of the cases he’s resolved include the investigation of the theft of a thousands of dollars of park entrance fees at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison in 2007. The result of that investigation, the DEP officials said, lead to the arrests and convictions of three people.

“Officer Stanko’s work ethics, passion for the job, knowledge and experience have gained him the respect of both his peers and the public for which he works.”

Officer Harold Lindo earned his Medal for Outstanding Service for his work in helping to locate a suicidal man in Devil’s Hopyard State Park in East Haddam who was threatening to jump off a cliff on the night of Dec. 14. Lindo, the DEP said, used his local knowledge of the area to locate the man, hiking a half mile into the park. He was able to talk the subject away from the edge of the cliff and take him into protective custody until state police arrived and took the man to the hospital.

The medal is given to an officer who succesfully performs an extremely complex or difficult investigation, demonstrates exceptional skill or ingenuity in the apprehension of a wanted person, provides outstanding service to the agency and public or achieves excellence in the performance of his or her duties.

“Today’s honorees – and all of our EnCon officers – are part of a unique law enforcement team charged with protecting the people of this state, as well as our natural resources and wildlife,” said Daniel C. Esty, the DEP’s commissioner.