Police Powers for Rangers
* Re “Tentative Accord May Rein In Park Rangers’ Police Powers,” May 22.
Those of us who frequent city parks have much to find fault with in the tentative agreement reached by two city departments to strip park rangers of their power of arrest. Near the top of the list is the premise at the heart of the agreement--that the law enforcement function of city park rangers is no longer needed. More troubling may be the reassurances offered by the authors of the agreement that the LAPD has the resources to absorb this function and still maintain current levels of park security. Oh and yes, park rangers will then be free to lead us on nature hikes. If only life were that good.
Park rangers are professional peace officers, well-trained and uniquely experienced to deal with the sort of low-level crimes found in our parks. They now account for most of the security and enforcement functions in them.
Even now, with both park rangers and the LAPD hard at work, patrols are stretched thin and control of some of our parks remains precarious. Neither should we lose sight of the fact that park rangers give our parks their undivided attention while the LAPD often must deal with competing demands. Trouble in our parks shouldn’t have to stand in line.
Who can criticize the notion that the public has much to gain when park rangers have more time to teach? But safety first.
ALAN KOERNER
Studio City
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