Outdoors with Larry DiDonato - DEC Police Lose a Champion

New York State Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Sean F. Dewey, 64, died on July 25th from complications associated with a heart ailment while visiting family in Florida. Officer Dewey’s career as an ECO began in NYC in 2002. He still served as an active-duty officer in Ticonderoga in Essex County at the time of his passing. Sean had served as an ECO in Delaware County from 2004 to 2008, and in Greene County from 2008 to 2018. 

It is with a heavy heart that I report the loss of a dedicated officer and friend. New York State Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Sean F. Dewey, 64, died on July 25th from complications associated with a heart ailment while visiting family in Florida. Officer Dewey’s  career as an ECO began in NYC in 2002. Officer Dewey was still serving as an active-duty ECO in Ticonderoga in Essex County at the time of his passing. Sean had served Region 4 as an ECO in Delaware County from 2004 to 2008, and in Greene County from 2008 to 2018. You can view ECO Dewey’s obituary at: https://gordoncemerickfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/2598/Sean-Dewey/obituary.html#tribute-start 

Sean was more than Greene County’s local ECO for ten years. His imposing physical stature matched his larger-than-life personality, jovial demeanor, and Irish wit. Whenever you met up with Sean you instantly knew he was genuinely glad to see you. Sean was beloved by fellow officers, friends, and foes alike. Violators had a healthy respect for Officer Dewey as he earned a reputation for being firm, but fair. 

Sean was definitely a “people person.” He truly loved everyone, including the public, and by and large, they loved him back. First and foremost, Sean’s love of people began with his family. Along with his beloved wife Susann, they raised their two sons, Danny and Brian, right here in Athens and Catskill. Both Danny and Brian followed in their father’s (rather large) footsteps, each serving with distinction in the US Marine Corps. Sean loved protecting his country, and the environment. He loved to hunt and fish, and had a distinct passion for his chosen career.  

ECO Dewey was not just an extremely dedicated officer and member of a wonderful family; he was my friend. I worked with Sean from 2004 until my retirement in 2015. When he was a new officer in Delaware County, I broke him into the ways we worked the most heinous of wildlife criminals, deer jackers; those who shoot deer at night with a light. I couldn’t have been more pleased with the result. ECO Dewey became one of Region 4’s best when it came to apprehending deer jackers in both Delaware and Greene Counties. Sean, along with his fellow ECOs, led the way and were key to the success of the Region 4 Deer Jacking Saturation Initiative, and Operations “Jack Hammer,” and “Dark Night.”

Sean and I became friends long ago, taking our kids duck hunting, on youth turkey hunts, ADK kayak/fishing trips, and up to DEC’s Camp Colby in Saranac Lake. Our mutual friend and retired Division Director, Tim Duffy and I made many trips to the “Dewey Duck Camp” in Lewis County, hunting with great friends like TJ and Sean’s brother’s Brian and Robert. Tim and I made a couple of forays visiting Sean in Ticonderoga, fishing for trout on the legendary streams and ponds of the Adirondacks. 

I spoke to Sean just a week before his passing as we planned a few fall hunting and fishing trips that sadly will not come to pass. I have been trying to get Sean to retire for some time but he always had the same reply; he was still having too much fun on the job. His optimism and enthusiasm for serving the public, and protecting our natural resources had not diminished one iota since the day we met when he was a rookie. We served for many years on the Division Honor Guard, attended the National Police Memorial in Washington DC, and honored fallen officers at countless law enforcement funerals. A US Marine and Army National Guard veteran, he now will be on the receiving end of uniformed law enforcement and military honor guards commemorating his dedicated law enforcement and military service.

Over the years, Sean served the Division with deep dedication and integrity in numerous roles;  Division Honor Guard, Academy Drill Instructor, member of the Incident Support Team and the Swift Water Response/Jet Boat Team. 

I can now see why Sean was honored with the “Cahill Award,” naming Sean as “Outstanding Recruit” in his academy. Sean earned the accolade for his constant support and mentoring of fellow recruits, assisting at every turn as they struggled to make it to graduation. Now that we reflect on who ECO Sean Dewey really was, earning this honor seems to have foreshadowed the way he would conduct his career.

Upon his passing, NYS DEC Division of Law Enforcement Director, Karen Przyklek remarked, “I will always remember Sean as the drum major for our Pipe & Drum band—a tall, commanding presence under a striking hat, leading with staff in hand. That image will forever symbolize his leadership, spirit, and pride in service.”

I couldn’t agree more. Director Przyklek went on to note how Sean Dewey simply loved being an ECO. It hadn’t dawned on me until his passing, but now I’m certain Sean was the most well-liked member of the Division. That genuine “glad to see you” greeting wasn’t just reserved for family and close friends. His joy and optimism remained contagious. 

Sean was a bit of a throwback in that he viewed his career as an ECO as a way of life, not just a way of earning a living. He loved it so much, he couldn’t bring himself to retire. But more than that, Sean loved his family, his friends, his coworkers, and yes, the public he so honorably served. 

There’s now a big void where Sean once stood. He will be sorely missed.

So, say a prayer for Sean and his family as we bid farewell to NYS Environmental Conservation Officer Sean F. Dewey; end of tour, July 25th 2025.