Los Angeles Park Ranger Division
| Los Angeles Park Ranger Division | |
|---|---|
| Common name | LA Parks Rangers |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Operational structure | |
| Park Rangers | 22 |
| Website | |
| http://www.laparks.org/dos/ranger/ranger.htm | |
The Los Angeles Park Ranger Division is the park ranger division serving Los Angeles, California parks. The headquarters of the Los Angeles Park Rangers is located at the Griffith Park visitor's center. The division is a specialize agency controlled by the Department of Parks and Recreation and employs 22 Park Rangers who are sworn peace officers
Overview
The Los Angeles Park Rangers provides public assistance and emergency services in Los Angeles City parks, including first aid, park policing, search and rescue, and are trained firefighters. They have various responsibilities in public parks and provide not only emergency and public safety services but also informational services at several parks.[1] Park rangers receive law enforcement training and have certified peace officer status in California. In 1996 due to spikes in violent crime in city parks patrolled by the Rangers, the union representing the rangers requested that the Rangers be trained to carry semi-automatic handguns similar to the Police but the request was eventually denied due to opposition from the LAPD and the Parks Department.[2] In 2000 the Parks and Recreation Department and the LAPD attempted to change the duties of the Park rangers by signing an agreement that would make the LAPD responsible for all arrests made in city parks and that Rangers would only be allowed to make arrests if someone's life was in danger. After strong opposition from the Park rangers, the city council eventually rejected the proposed agreement and Park rangers continued with their original peace officer status.[3]
See also
- List of law enforcement agencies in California
- Los Angeles Police Department
- Law enforcement in Los Angeles County
References
- ^ "A Nervous 'Rec'". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
- ^ "Park Rangers Set Their Sights on Carrying Guns". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
- ^ "City May Limit Park Rangers' Authority to Make Arrests". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2014-08-06.