Park Rangers

[brittsnbirds]

Wow, many different opinions here! Almost afraid to identify my profession.

If I'm not mistaken there is a difference between Park Rangers, Park Management and Conservation Officers (game wardens). My understanding is the Park Manager (Eric I think) is responsible for the upkeep of the campgrounds and the park in general. Park Rangers, who are Missouri Certified Law Enforcement Officers are responsible for violations in the park. Such as speeding, illegal parking, peace disturbances, fights and so on. Conservation Officers (Missouri Certified Law Enforcement Officers) are responsible for violations of Missouri game laws. I would also go out on a limb and say that there is only 1 Conservation Agent for each county. That means they have to respond to all complaints night and day in their respective county's. They also get pulled to other county's when they have special investigations like monitoring floaters on the Niangua or any other stream in Missouri.

I know from talking with several Park Rangers over the years that their job is much more political then mine. It is frowned on from their management to be too over zealous with violators. They (management) encourage the Park Rangers to warn and educate the public (their customers) rather than write violations. I know several Park Rangers (retired) that were retired from other agency's (Missouri Hiway Patrol for one). They have the experience and were very good at what they were doing.

If you want to contract out to Dallas or Laclede county Sheriff's office for patrolling BSSP then good luck. They are undermanned and way underpaid. I would guess that they are lucky to have 2 deputy's on any one shift at a time. I would guess the norm is 1. If you are upset with conservation violations your beef isn't with the Park Ranger. Rag on the Conservation commission. If your not satisfied with the amenities of the park then stop by the shack at the bottom of the hill and ask for the Park Manager. If your upset about speeders, loud noise, or someone parking illegally in the handicapped spots contact the Park Ranger.

I think the biggest misunderstanding is that Park Rangers enforce the fish and game laws. Theoretically I guess they can but they defer violations to the Conservation Officers.

As far as the comment about putting our lives on the line. Thanks NoLuck, I appreciate your comment, considering I have been at it for almost 30 years. And by the way, business is booming!!

[Wayne SW/MO]

If you want to contract out to Dallas or Laclede county Sheriff's office for patrolling BSSP then good luck.

Not to mention that they have their hands full with the river floaters.

[FlyFishinFool]

If I'm not mistaken there is a difference between Park Rangers, Park Management and Conservation Officers (game wardens). My understanding is the Park Manager (Eric I think) is responsible for the upkeep of the campgrounds and the park in general. Park Rangers, who are Missouri Certified Law Enforcement Officers are responsible for violations in the park. Such as speeding, illegal parking, peace disturbances, fights and so on. Conservation Officers (Missouri Certified Law Enforcement Officers) are responsible for violations of Missouri game laws. I would also go out on a limb and say that there is only 1 Conservation Agent for each county. That means they have to respond to all complaints night and day in their respective county's. They also get pulled to other county's when they have special investigations like monitoring floaters on the Niangua or any other stream in Missouri.

I know from talking with several Park Rangers over the years that their job is much more political then mine. It is frowned on from their management to be too over zealous with violators. They (management) encourage the Park Rangers to warn and educate the public (their customers) rather than write violations. I know several Park Rangers (retired) that were retired from other agency's (Missouri Hiway Patrol for one). They have the experience and were very good at what they were doing.

If you want to contract out to Dallas or Laclede county Sheriff's office for patrolling BSSP then good luck. They are undermanned and way underpaid. I would guess that they are lucky to have 2 deputy's on any one shift at a time. I would guess the norm is 1. If you are upset with conservation violations your beef isn't with the Park Ranger. Rag on the Conservation commission. If your not satisfied with the amenities of the park then stop by the shack at the bottom of the hill and ask for the Park Manager. If your upset about speeders, loud noise, or someone parking illegally in the handicapped spots contact the Park Ranger.

BrittsnBirds,

Reviewing your comments I get the impression that you work in law enforcement at some level. Based on your statements, the Park Ranger would be the correct person to contact to report a vehicle break-in and property theft - correct? Well, my personal experience is that did NOT happen - The PR was not interested in taking the pertinent information, and never contacted me at a later time as promised. I was at BSSP for the entire week and the PR never made one effort to contact me.

I am not recommending contracting out the patrolling of BSSP to the Dallas or Laclede County Sheriff's offices; unfortunately I was FORCED to contact the Dallas County Sheriff office to report the crime and to get a police report on file for insurance purposes, because the BSSP PR refused to respond to a report of vehicle break-in and theft of personal property. If your understanding of the PR job is correct, then the PR at BSSP is failing to address a serious portion of his job.

By the way - after I called the Dallas Co. Sheriff's office, the individual that came to take the report was Mike Rackley, the Sheriff himself! All of his deputies on duty had more critical issues to handle, so he came out to take care of my problem. If the Sheriff himself can make time to follow-up on a break-in & theft report (driving from Buffalo to BSSP) then why can't the PR who lives on the BSSP property make time to respond? or for that matter even pick up the phone and return my call as he promised?

[Wayne SW/MO]

I'm surprised he didn't demand to know whether you were in Laclede or Dallas before he talked to you.

I agree with you that it reflects badly on the park when the ranger doesn't get up and running over a break in.

[jdmidwest]

Wow, many different opinions here! Almost afraid to identify my profession.

As far as the comment about putting our lives on the line. Thanks NoLuck, I appreciate your comment, considering I have been at it for almost 30 years. And by the way, business is booming!!

I smell BACON! Seriously, let any one of these guys walk up to an unknown in a car at a traffic stop on a lonely road at night and see how manly they are. You never really know what is sitting in the driver seat with a poor attitude toward a law enforcement officer and a gun. My utmost respect is for the MDC Agent, for the most part, he is sneaking up on a Game Violator, who is probably carrying a loaded firearm, too many things to go wrong in a hurry. Highway Patrol is another honorable profession that could turn deadly in seconds, professed by the several officers in MO that have lost their lives on the job. Yours is a deadly profession, but better now thanks to Kevlar and Technology.

One thing I have noticed, most Park Rangers seem to only enforce park violations. Theft, hit and runs, and other violations require a County Sheriff or Deputy. My only dealings with a PR involved a bashed in fender on a new PU truck in a trout park, I was passed off to the Sheriff Dept. to make a report. Then there was this one time we overstayed our camping pay because we decided to stay and extra day at Bennett and tour Springfield. We came back late that night, after office had closed, built a fire and started relaxing. PR and a Sheriff Deputy pulled up demanding $8 like we were a couple of deadbeats. I really thought that was kind of petty.

[lovetofish]

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

I know most counties don't get paid that much. Plus many get housing for cheap on the park. Plus how busy is the park for most of the year. That in itself seems to me why we should stop paying these guys year round. I think the best option would be to pay a retired cop to come in during the busy time and have the county cover the rest of the year. The parks always say they are out of money but never do anything to cut wasted programs. Why not just have conservation cover the parks as well? that is how most states do it. Or is it to protect those that have the high paying jobs that sit in the office?

[lovetofish]

I think we should start emailing the state parks and demand a better solution to the Park Rangers. Seems to me that I am not the only one who has issues with them for theft and nothing was done to contact us. If we all start calling the Parks Director personally we could finally see wasted people in the office go, so we can spend our tax money on improvements in the parks, like new restrooms or a cleaning table or something.

[lovetofish]

BrittsnBirds,

Reviewing your comments I get the impression that you work in law enforcement at some level. Based on your statements, the Park Ranger would be the correct person to contact to report a vehicle break-in and property theft - correct? Well, my personal experience is that did NOT happen - The PR was not interested in taking the pertinent information, and never contacted me at a later time as promised. I was at BSSP for the entire week and the PR never made one effort to contact me.

I am not recommending contracting out the patrolling of BSSP to the Dallas or Laclede County Sheriff's offices; unfortunately I was FORCED to contact the Dallas County Sheriff office to report the crime and to get a police report on file for insurance purposes, because the BSSP PR refused to respond to a report of vehicle break-in and theft of personal property. If your understanding of the PR job is correct, then the PR at BSSP is failing to address a serious portion of his job.

By the way - after I called the Dallas Co. Sheriff's office, the individual that came to take the report was Mike Rackley, the Sheriff himself! All of his deputies on duty had more critical issues to handle, so he came out to take care of my problem. If the Sheriff himself can make time to follow-up on a break-in & theft report (driving from Buffalo to BSSP) then why can't the PR who lives on the BSSP property make time to respond? or for that matter even pick up the phone and return my call as he promised?

Yes they are short handed. That is why we should contract out to the counties. The PR is base $36,000 plus another %40 of benifits, take home car, retirement, training, etc. The bill for the Ranger program must be around 6 Million a year on the low side. When the park is slow the deputy could do other things in the county, plus their would be no favoritism in the park for those that work there. I looked at their roster and to me they have way to many high paid brass for such a small department.

[jdmidwest]

I know most counties don't get paid that much. Plus many get housing for cheap on the park. Plus how busy is the park for most of the year. That in itself seems to me why we should stop paying these guys year round. I think the best option would be to pay a retired cop to come in during the busy time and have the county cover the rest of the year. The parks always say they are out of money but never do anything to cut wasted programs. Why not just have conservation cover the parks as well? that is how most states do it. Or is it to protect those that have the high paying jobs that sit in the office?

I have seen the housing, most were built by the Conservation Corps during the depression. And it is small compared to most double wide trailers. Go up and take a look at it the next time you visit a park, there is usually a big sign on the road pointing to it when you drive thru. State Parks are open year round and there is usually only 1 Park Ranger per State Park so they are probably on "call" more than most jobs.

MDC covers game violations, they are not there to patrol State Parks, it is a whole different job. There is usually only 1 MDC agent assigned to most counties, a certain county may have several Park Rangers depending on how many State Parks are in that county.

If you are so concerned about saving taxpayer dollars, get out and vote in Nov. and stop the waste in Government.

[fishinwrench]

I smell BACON! Seriously, let any one of these guys walk up to an unknown in a car at a traffic stop on a lonely road at night and see how manly they are.

Manly ? No here's what REALLY takes balls....

Pull a guy over on his way home from fishing, for no reason whatsoever, ask for his license and insurance card and go run him for warrants (none), Then tell him he crossed the line twice when you know darn well he didn't, ask him if he's had anything to drink tonite and before he can even get the words "no sir" out of his mouth tell to step out of the truck and stand at the front of the patrol car while you pilfer through his belongings and spill his soda on the seats of his well kept Silverado as you try to figure out the latch on the center console....Then tell him you "thought you might have gotten a whiff of marijuana", apologize (in a smartass way) for the inconvienience and tell him to have a nice evening.

THAT MY FRIEND...TAKES BALLS ! and it has nothing whatsoever to do with "being a man".

In my eyes there are two kinds of law dogs. The ones that act like what I just described....And the ones that dont BUT YET turn a blind eye towards their buddys that do, thereby not honoring the oath they took. So yes I have some degree of respect-deficit for the men behind badges. Sorry