Lt. Walter Maloney assumes the reigns in Columbia and Rensselaer Counties

For Columbia-Greene Media

Columbia and Rensselear Counties have a new lieutenant in town. Recently promoted from the rank of Technical Sergeant, Lt. Walter Maloney is the new Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) lieutenant assigned to Columbia and Rensselaer Counties.

Lt. Walter Maloney has been permanently assigned to fill the vacancy left by outgoing Lt. Jason DeAngelis who transferred to the Otsego/Montgomery County Zone. We wish Lt. DeAngelis well in his new assignment, and welcome Lt. Walt Maloney, who’s not so new to the area. Lt. Maloney grew up hunting and fishing in Rensselaer County as a native of New Brunswick.

He graduated from SUNY Albany in 1994 with a bachelors in Criminal Justice. He is a 23-year veteran of DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement, graduating the ECO Academy in 1996. He was initially assigned to Oneida County until 1998 when he took a transfer and became the local ECO in Delaware County.

Lt. Maloney spent the next portion of his career assigned to special teams that focused on off- road enforcement including specialized vessel, snowmobile, ATV and related enforcement. He was promoted to Technical Sergeant in 2009 when he became a specialist in the radiological defense of our homeland.

Then T/Sgt. Maloney created a program where the protection of our homeland was seamlessly integrated into the routine duties ECOs perform every day. For instance, ECOs would conduct routine vessel, vehicle, and foot patrols while passively deploying sensitive radiological detection equipment to protect the citizens of our state and nation.

Lt. Maloney is long-time member of the Division Honor Guard and excelled at military drill. He brought the Honor Guard to new heights of professionalism with equipment and training. He is an academy instructor in a number of topics.

Lt. Maloney is an avid sportsman. When not working or coaching baseball, he spends his free time hunting deer, waterfowl, and coyotes.

I had the privilege of working with Lt. Maloney for many years in a variety of enforcement areas. From working deer decoys in the fields of Delaware County to his piloting shake down runs of the $1.5 million 41-foot flagship vessel of the ECO fleet, I can attest Lt. Maloney is a highly competent dedicated professional who has enjoyed a stellar law enforcement career.

We are lucky to have him at the helm and I am confident he will provide outstanding leadership as he assumes his new leadership position.

Please join me in welcoming Lt. Walter Maloney to Columbia and Rensselaer Counties.

Happy New Year and Happy Hunting, Fishing and Trapping until next time.

News and Notes

Save the Date: February 15, 2020

The Catskill Mountain F&G Club/Stony Clove F&G Club Youth Ice Fishing Derby

The date for this event is scheduled for Saturday, February 15th; ice conditions permitting.

Sign-in begins at 9 a.m. with youth fishing from 10 a.m.-noon. There will be prizes for all kids attending, plus refreshments will be available. For more information call Bob Monteleone at 518-488-0240.

Remember to report poaching violations by calling 1-844-DEC-ECOS.

You can share any comments with our sports desk at sports@registerstar.com

*If you have a fishing or hunting report, photo, or event you would like to be considered for publication, you can send it to: huntfishreport@gmail.com