New York DEC mourns the passing of retired Environmental Conservation Police Lieutenant David J. McShane

Marcellus, N.Y — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos and Division of Law Enforcement Director Karen Przyklek are saddened to announce the line of duty death of retired Environmental Conservation Police Lieutenant David J. McShane.

McShane passed away Jan. 22 following a long battle with cancer. His illness was related to his assignment at the World Trade Center following the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001. Following the events of 9/11, Lieutenant McShane was assigned to New York City to assist in search and recovery efforts.

“When America came under attack on 9/11, changing the world as we knew it and crippling us with fear, Lt. McShane put the safety of New Yorkers and his country ahead of his own,” Commissioner Seggos said.

Lieutenant David J. McShane, 50, entered the Environmental Conservation Police as a member of the 12th Basic School for Uniformed Officers on Feb. 15, 1999, and served with the DEC Division of Law Enforcement for 22 years. He was last assigned to DEC’s Region 7 where he supervised Environmental Conservation Police Officers in Onondaga and Cayuga counties.

An illness contracted during his 9/11-related service returned after several years of remission. He formally retired in 2022.

Lieutenant McShane was from Marcellus, Onondaga County. He is survived by his wife and three children.