Park Rangers

[fishinwrench]

They put their lives on the line for us everyday

OMG, I sure don't want to offend any cops or ex-cops on here, but that over-used cliche drives me absolutely crazy.

They are well equipped with all the best quality weapons and gadgets, and are professionally trained in the use of them. They also have full permission to use deadly force ANY time they feel the least bit threatened, and are connected to a network of unlimited resources.

So if their "life is ever on the line" then it's because they are seriously Slackin'.

Any of us could say the same thing. If I slack on my job I'd be putting my life on the line everyday also, and for what ?

Your boating pleasure is my mission in life, I'd die for you just so you can go fishing or pull your kids on a tube

[awhuber]

OMG, I sure don't want to offend any cops or ex-cops on here, but that over-used cliche drives me absolutely crazy.

They are well equipped with all the best quality weapons and gadgets, and are professionally trained in the use of them. They also have full permission to use deadly force ANY time they feel the least bit threatened, and are connected to a network of unlimited resources.

So if their "life is ever on the line" then it's because they are seriously Slackin'.

Any of us could say the same thing. If I slack on my job I'd be putting my life on the line everyday also, and for what ?

Your boating pleasure is my mission in life, I'd die for you just so you can go fishing or pull your kids on a tube

I'm with wrench on this one.

LEOs do not even make the top 10 most dangerous jobs.

[Gilly]

My step-brother just retired from the 'system', lovetofish. The following comment is my own, only slightly influenced by listening to his stories over the years:

Do you know how many people (I'm being very nice here) he's had to deal with over the years who share the same disrespect for rangers and more often than not, law enforcement in general? Now, I'm not saying all PR's are of the same high calibre that he is, in fact I've met a turd or two, but my step-brother loves the out of doors with a passion. He would give the shirt off his back, and literally has, to anyone.......except to unscrupulous sportsmen and idiot john Q publics. These type of individuals are who he swore to protect the rest of us from. In addition to knowing the legal system inside and out, the DNR regulations, the history of Yellowstone and the general area (it is where he worked), the Girl and Boy Scout programs inside and out (he deals with them on a regular basis and the information is a wealth of knowledge) and he is a certified first responder, this man would much rather sit down with you and trade stories or share his knowledge with you. He never has understood people like you.

Oh yeah, my daughter is a retired cop.

Retired at 37 years old.

Some idiot john Q with no respect for people in general put her in a position of having to make a decision. It cost her 80%+ of her hearing.

[fishinwrench]

My step-brother just retired from the 'system', lovetofish. The following comment is my own, only slightly influenced by listening to his stories over the years:

Do you know how many people (I'm being very nice here) he's had to deal with over the years who share the same disrespect for rangers and more often than not, law enforcement in general? Now, I'm not saying all PR's are of the same high calibre that he is, in fact I've met a turd or two, but my step-brother loves the out of doors with a passion. He would give the shirt off his back, and literally has, to anyone.......except to unscrupulous sportsmen and idiot john Q publics. These type of individuals are who he swore to protect the rest of us from. In addition to knowing the legal system inside and out, the DNR regulations, the history of Yellowstone and the general area (it is where he worked), the Girl and Boy Scout programs inside and out (he deals with them on a regular basis and the information is a wealth of knowledge) and he is a certified first responder, this man would much rather sit down with you and trade stories or share his knowledge with you. He never has understood people like you.

Oh yeah, my daughter is a retired cop.

Retired at 37 years old.

Some idiot john Q with no respect for people in general put her in a position of having to make a decision. It cost her 80%+ of her hearing.

That is unfortunate. But when you say "John Q" it makes me think of a hero, one that takes matters into his own hands to see that the proper and "right" thing gets done in spite of any rediculis legal protocol.

Apparently "John Q" means something entirely different to You. Enlighten me.

[Greg]

It doesn't sound like any of us really know enough about the PR job to criticize them as a whole. I certainly don't. 35k/year doesn't sound like an unreasonable salary either. They certainly aren't getting rich at that rate of pay.

It's always really easy to criticize other professions when you don't know much about them.

Greg

[Gilly]

That is unfortunate. But when you say "John Q" it makes me think of a hero, one that takes matters into his own hands to see that the proper and "right" thing gets done in spite of any rediculis legal protocol.

Apparently "John Q" means something entirely different to You. Enlighten me.

To me wrench, and most of the folks I hang with, john Q public is an unnamed person(s) at large. No one specific.

[fishinwrench]

To me wrench, and most of the folks I hang with, john Q public is an unnamed person(s) at large. No one specific.

Ok gotcha. There's a movie called John Q. (Denzel Washington) Good flick actually.

[Trav]

My two pennys.......

I think the police are given way too much latitude. I can't tell you how many times I have been the only vehicle on the road and have a cop follow me turn for turn for miles on end. Most the time they make up some bogus reason to pull me over and when I refuse to let them search my vehicle (private property in my eyes) they use my refusal as "reasonable cause" to search it anyway. I have had my person violated too many times for absolutley no reason at the hands of police. If police want respect they should earn it by giving some instead of demanding it.

Park Rangers may appear like bumps on a log at times but they at least leave people feeling they have dignity intact. I think the police could learn a little personal relations from park rangers.

The police assume everyone is a potential criminal, park rangers are educators as well advocates for the wildlife they protect. One entity is looking to cuff and control where the other is looking to communicate and monitor. The saying "protect and serve" best describes a park ranger while a cop hides behind this motto as they "dominate and violate".

[FlyFishinFool]

Overall, I believe the Park Rangers provide a good service, trying to keep the cheaters from breaking the basic rules and regulations at the parks. Many times I have seen people creel their last fish and keep on fishing, or clean a limit of fish in the morning and then you see them come back down to fish in the afternoon. When I spoke to a PR a couple of years ago, he said they usually find folks everyday who are fishing on the prior day's tags - I guess they just can't afford that $2 tag every day!

Regarding the PR at Bennett Spring, well I have a less than positive experience with him. My vehicle was broken into earlier this year and I had gear stolen early one morning. I called the PR and when I tried to tell him the information about when, where and what had been stolen, he interupted and asked for my name and phone number, saying he would call me later in the day to get the detailed information (I guess I called too early in the morning!). However, he never called me at all - apparently investigating an actual crime is not part of his duties. He obviously had no desire to be a first responder, or any kind of a responder for that matter. I had to call the Dallas County Sheriff's office to report the incident, and the Dallas County Sheriff himself came out to inspect my truck and fill out the damage and theft report.

[Gilly]

[........Regarding the PR at Bennett Spring, well I have a less than positive experience with him.}

So he goes into the 'turd' column?