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13 Environmental Police Officers graduated from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection’s Environmental Policy Academy, according to a press release.

The newly graduated officers trained for 31 weeks at The Environmental Policy Academy, which was created in 2002. It was the country’s first academy to provide this intense training in environmental law, according to the DEP. The officers were required to study subjects such as environmental conservation law, fish and wildlife science, and land navigation.

In total, the officers speak five different languages and reside in eight different counties. EPO Adam Henry was named the class leader at the ceremony. Several others were also presented with awards for categories such as academic proficiency and physical fitness.

They will be deployed to protect New York City’s watershed, which stretches on for 2,000 miles and provides water for about half of the state’s population.

“A safe and reliable supply of high quality drinking water is the lifeblood of New York City,” said DEP Commissioner Emily Lloyd in the press release. “I am proud to welcome our newest class of Environmental Police Officers to the ranks of a force with more than a century of tradition and accomplishment. Welcome to the DEP Police.”

-by Connie Lee

Downtown Magazine