For the Codified Park Rules and Regulations, click here.

Park Ranger Division

Contact

eMail: Sgt. Bill Nickell or Sgt. Brady Smith

Main office: 575 Ledbetter Road, Xenia, Ohio

Phone: 937-562-6477 for Sgt. Nickell
937-562-6478 for Sgt. Smith

FAX: 937-562-6445

About Our Park Rangers

The Greene County Park District was established in 1964 and commissioned its first group of rangers in 1979.

The Ranger Division's primary objective is to provide a safe and enjoyable visit for all of our visitors.

The Ranger Division's jurisdiction comprises nearly 2,900 acres of land in over 60 sites and includes over 50 miles of paved, multi-purpose linear trails or "bike paths".

Greene County Park District Rangers are state certified, law enforcement officers who exercise full police powers in the commission of their duties.

The Ranger Division Headquarters is located in Xenia, Ohio and includes:

6 full-time Rangers
1 part-time Range
up to 4 Reserve Rangers

The Ranger Division patrols 7 days a week and logs over 9,000 patrol hours per year. Rangers patrol using:

marked patrol cars
ATVs
bicycles
on foot

What is a Park Ranger?*

In the course of their everyday duties, Greene County Park Rangers often encounter people who are not familiar with the law enforcement role of the park ranger. This is a situation of universal frustration for park law enforcement officers around the country.

The Ranger is the most recognizable member of the department's staff. We learn as children what a Park Ranger looks like and we are taught that they are the protectors of our parks and natural areas.

Many people have little or no knowledge concerning park rangers because rangers are usually found in agencies which are small in size or of relatively short history when compared to their police counterparts.

Also, the term "ranger" itself has different meanings from agency to agency and person to person.

Generally speaking, a "ranger" is a law enforcement officer whose jurisdiction and/or responsibilities center around natural resources.

However, there can be considerable differences in the actual work performed by rangers in different agencies.

Rangers at one agency may primarily function as naturalists who manage and interpret natural resources for the public.
At others agencies they may perform park maintenance duties and have limited law enforcement authority.
Some serve as park police, enforcing laws, investigating crimes, and making arrests.
Many rangers in fact are tasked with varying amounts of interpretation, park maintenance, and law enforcement assignments within their job descriptions.

Different Types of Rangers*

To complicate this issue more, there are even different types of rangers.

"park" rangers are more prevelant and are found in national, state, and local public parks
"forest" rangers work in our national, and state forests.
"park officers" is another common term used by some agencies
and many people are further confused by thinking of "wildlife officers," or "game wardens," as rangers, because they often wear similar uniforms and enforce the same laws.

For these reasons, the role of park ranger is frequently misunderstood. These misunderstandings can become serious problems, if a person thinks that he is not dealing with a with a law enforcement officer and chooses to challenge or ignore a ranger's authority, when in fact he is dealing with a ranger who is an officer with the same legal authority as a municipal police officer.

Legal Authority*

To set matters straight then, it is necessary to define the scope of authority of the Greene County Park Rangers.

The legal authority for park rangers comes from the Ohio Revised Code (O.R.C.). O.R.C. section 1545.07 authorizes the board of park commissioners to, "employ...such other employees as are necessary in the performance of the powers conferred in such sections (O.R.C. 1545.01 - 1545.28)."

O.R.C. 1545.13 grants police powers to the Greene County Park District Ranger Division:

"The employees that the board of park commissioners designates for that purpose may exercise all the powers of police officers within and adjacent to the lands under the jurisdiction and control of the board..."

The O.R.C. clarifies this matter further in section 109.71 (A) (7) where the term "Peace Officer" is said to include:

"An employee of a park district who is designated pursuant to section...1545.13 of the Revised Code."

To summarize, the Ohio Revised Code has established that park rangers are "Peace Officers" or, more commonly "Police Officers", with certain police powers.

These police powers are the same for officers throughout the state of Ohio. Rangers who announce themselves to a person as "Police" or "Park Police" during an encounter are attempting to make this authority clear to the person.

Duties & Training*

The Greene County Park Rangers' primary duties are to:

preserve the peace
protect life and property
enforce the laws of Ohio and the regulations of Greene County's many parks.

Pursuant to these duties, rangers:

issue warnings, either verbal or written
issue citations
make arrests
investigate crimes ranging from minor misdemeanors to serious felonies.

As required by law, all Greene County Park Rangers must pass the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy prior to employment as a ranger.

This extensive curriculum covers the topics of:

Administration
Legal
Human Relations
Firearms
Driving
Investigation
Traffic Accident Investigation
Patrol
Traffic Enforcement
Civil Disorders
Unarmed Self Defense
Prisoner Booking/Handling
First Aid
and Physical Conditioning

Once on the job, rangers, like all peace officers in Ohio, are required to meet the on-going training standards set by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Council, the governing body of law enforcement in Ohio.

Rangers continue to receive training at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy and from numerous other sources.

Some rangers have become instructors in various fields and can provide training to their fellow officers here at home.

The members of the Greene County Park District Ranger Division are proud of the job they do. They are committed to keeping their promise to the public of clean and safe county parks.

When you meet a Greene County Park Ranger, you are meeting a highly trained, committed, and professional police officer who works in the parks to keep you safe when you visit.

The only difference from their traditional police counterparts, is that they wear a different shade of blue!

How Do I Contact a Greene County Park Ranger?

In the event you need the assistance of a Greene County Park Ranger while visiting, you may reach us through the following methods:

NON-EMERGENCIES

To get a ranger dispatched to your location as soon as possible, call:

Greene County Sheriff's Office
937-376-5111
anytime
Greene County Administrative Offices
937-562-6440
(M-F, 8 AM - 5 PM)

EMERGENCIES

Dial 9-1-1 and a Ranger Officer will be dispatched to your location immediately.
Please remain calm during an emergency. If you do not provide your location in a calm manner, the dispatcher may be unable to hear you clearly. This may delay our response time.
Be as descriptive as possible in providing your EXACT location, so that we may find and assist you quickly.

Personal Safety & Crime Prevention Tips

Greene County Parks are safe and enjoyable places to visit any time of the year! However, remember to practice the same personal safety routines you would anywhere else.

General Safety Tips

Be aware of nearby people and vehicle
If using headphones, let them hang around your neck. It's important to hear, as well as see, what's happening in the vicinity. This is especially important when using the many multi-purpose trails in Greene County. The trails can become very busy in the warm months and all trail users need to be able to hear what's approaching from behind.
If it's necessary to call for help, be able to give an exact location by knowing the nearest park area, road intersection or landmark.
Whenever possible, visit a park with a friend or in a group.
Avoid isolated areas. Keep roadways, parking lots or at least a major trail in site, especially if alone.
Carry a whistle to make loud noise in an emergency.
Always be observant, particularly if a suspicious person or group of people. If someone becomes a victim of crime, a good description will assist in identifying the suspect.
If you become a victim of crime, yell or scream. Do not risk injury by chasing or fighting with an attacker.
Have an avenue of escape in mind. In the event of an attack, know where to run. Head towards the nearest roadway or park facility. Avoid running into the woods.
If a vehicle is involved in a crime, try to get the license plate number. Write down the make, model and color of the vehicle if you can.
If jogging on a park trail or one of our multi-purpose trails during dusk or dawn hours, wear bright clothing or a reflective vest.
If using a multi-purpose trail, obey traffic laws, stay to the right except for passing and use a light after dark.

Child Safety Tips

Young children should never be allowed to venture off by themselves.
Keep close visual contact with children at all times, especially around roadways and bodies of water.
Teach children not to talk with strangers and never to accept invitations to go anywhere with someone they don't know.
Educate children about rangers and police officers. Explain that they are there to help, and that it's ok to ask for help.
Teach children how to contact help in the event of an emergency.
Teach children that if they become lost in a park to stay put and wait for help to arrive.

Vehicle Safety Tips

Lock car doors and close windows after checking to make sure keys are removed from the vehicle.
Have your keys ready when you return to your car.
Take a flashlight after dark to check the interior of the car before entering.
In the event of car trouble, contact the Ranger Division through the park office at 937-562-6440 or the Sheriff's Department Dispatch at 937-376-5111.
Lock valuables (purse, wallet, cell phone, cameras, etc.) in the trunk.
Keep an updated record of serial numbers and credit card numbers at home. Have it available for police in the event of theft.
Consider the use of a steering wheel lock or install an alarm system.
Keep a pen and paper in the car for notes in the event of a crime.
If you find that your car has been broken into, try to touch as little as possible.

Some Frequently Asked Questions

Are Greene County Park District Rangers police officers?: Yes. Rangers are state-certified law enforcement offices who exercise full police powers in the commission of their duties. They have the same arrest authority as municipal police officers.
How does someone become a Ranger?: To be a Ranger, a candidate must have an associate's degree or at least two years of college and be a graduate of an accredited peace officer academy.
What are some of the duties of a Park Ranger?: Like any police department, rangers patrol park lands in vehicles and on foot. However, we also patrol on ATVs and bicycles. Patrolling on ATVs or bikes allows officers to access the remote areas of Greene County Parks which aren't always accessible by cars. We also use these units to patrol over 50 miles of paved, multi-purpose trails, or "bike paths". During our time on patrol, rangers will talk with park visitors, answer questions, assist visitors with medical or vehicle problems, check on other staff members, talk with campers and permit holders, look for maintenance and/or safety concerns and be on the watch for visitors in violation of park rules and regulations. Each year, we issue citations, parking tickets, warnings and make numerous physical arrests.
Do I call the Ranger office to reserve a shelter or facility?: No. To reserve a shelter, park facility or to request a camping permit, contact the main office at 937-562-6440.

Call our after-hours emergency number if you have an emergency with one of our rentals or facilities, i.e. water main break, no electricity for your rental, or damage to a facility.

If there is no answer at the emergency number, please contact the Sheriff’s Dispatch at 376-5111 and ask them to contact the Park Ranger on duty.

Please note that this number does NOT replace our regular office number. Please call our administrative office at 562-6440 for general information and all other questions during regular office hours Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
May I call the Ranger office with an animal question?: While some of our Rangers may have an educational background on local flora and fauna, Greene County Park Rangers are law enforcement officers.

A Park District Naturalist is better suited to answer your animal and nature related questions.

You can contact a naturalist at the Narrows Reserve Nature Center at 937-429-9590.

If you are having a problem with a wild animal, it is best to contact the offices of Greene County Animal Control at 937-562-7400.

* Information on 'What is a Park Ranger?', 'Different Types of Rangers', 'Legal Authority', and 'Duties and Training' was obtained from a document written by Lt. Mark Arendt for Five Rivers MetroParks.

Stop by and see us at our new agency headquarters! See our reclaimed barn wood, vintage park signage and aquarium with native fish too...