Chairman William Wise opened the meeting by congratulating Richard Otterstedt of DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement on his promotion from Captain to Major. Major Otterstedt then updated the Council on the reorganization of the Bureau of Environmental Conservation Investigations (BECI), which he had described to the Council at its July 2000 meeting. He announced that the promotion and reassignment of captains had been accomplished; it was his intent that the captains would attend future Council meetings. This would enhance the officers’ understanding of the Council’s concerns and the Council could hear directly from the officers about regional priorities. Major Otterstedt then introduced Captains Kelly, Thumm, and Fanelli, each responsible for a region in the reorganized BECI. He indicated that Captain Rubella, assigned to DEC Region II, would attend future Council meetings.