Rangers Being Phased Out of Police Duties at Georgia State Parks

June 6th, 2013

C. Holmes / http://www.flickr.com/photos/inventorchris2/8078801940/

Park Rangers hold a number of responsibilities, including law enforcement. Right now, rangers can arrest you in state parks for breaking the law. But that’s going to change in the next five years. Story about state park rangers

The department of Natural Resources will be phasing out that role for most rangers to be more efficient. Deputy Commissioner of the DNR, Homer Bryson, says law enforcement will eventually be done by a separate entity.

“This is an attempt to consolidate the core function of law enforcement within the department that would eliminate duplication of services, form a single chain of command for law enforcement in the department. It helps with strategic deployment of personnel and patrol efforts and it will also help reduce liability.”

Bryson says each of the state’s 65 parks and historic sites has particular needs and that is why they are taking time to assess each one. He says they are committed to public safety but not all park issues actually require law enforcement.

“A lot is education. A lot of people just don’t know rules. You’re still going to have the same number of eyes overlooking our property with potential for additional eyes in the future.”

State rangers will still be able to make arrests until the new rules take effect in five years.