DEC Office in New Paltz Receives Bomb Threat

On Nov. 4, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 3 office in New Paltz received a bomb threat via email. According to a press release from Troop F of the New York State Police, the building was searched and no explosive devices were found.

The office, located behind the New Paltz Plaza that is home to businesses including ShopRite and Bubbakoo’s Burritos, was one of at least 12 DEC locations that have received similar threats beginning on Nov. 3. The locations of other targeted DEC offices range from Buffalo to Stony Brook on Long Island.

According to Beau Duffy, executive director of public information for the New York State Police, all of the threats have been deemed “non-credible” and investigations are ongoing.

Regional offices are usually the “first point of contact for questions, or to obtain or renew a DEC permit, to report environmental or natural resource problems,” as per the DEC website. The department employs about 3,000 people across the state.

While neither the DEC or state police have commented on a motive for the threats, it is suspected to have come from backlash for the confiscation and subsequent euthanization of a 7-year-old gray rescue squirrel named P’nut. 

The squirrel and a raccoon named Fred were taken from owners Mark and Daniela Longo and later euthanized during a DEC raid at their rescue animal sanctuary, “P’nut’s Freedom Farm” in the small upstate town Pine Hill.

“On Oct. 30, the DEC seized a raccoon and squirrel sharing a residence with humans, creating the potential for human exposure to rabies. In addition, a person involved with the investigation was bitten by the squirrel,” read a statement from the DEC press office. “To test for rabies, both animals were euthanized.”

The Times Union reported that the agency told its employees they could work from home on Nov. 4 and 5 as the threats were investigated. “Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our employees. As you are aware, there have been a number of threats toward DEC and our staff in recent days and we are taking these extremely seriously, including by coordinating closely with the New York State Police,” read a message sent from the DEC to all employees.

“I’m angry. I’m sad. I’m disgusted,” said Mr. Longo in a TikTok live a day before the first bomb threat. Following the raid at their residence, the DEC announced that it has begun an internal investigation regarding the search and seizure.

The Police Benevolent Association of New York State (PBA), the law enforcement labor union representing the officers of the DEC, released a statement on Nov. 8 calling for an end to the threats.

“The misinformation propagated on social media has resulted in unconscionable threats against Environmental Conservation Officers and DEC staffers’ lives, along with threats to blow up regional DEC offices and employees’ homes and even targeting an elected judge,” the union’s statement read.