The San Antonio Park Police, the new name for what was formerly known as the Park Rangers, form a Division of the Parks and Recreation Department. They are certified peace officers whose mission it is to provide security for visitors to City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation facilities.

In the course of their everyday duties, San Antonio Park Police often encounter people who are not familiar with the law enforcement role of the park ranger or police. 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 while others may perform park maintenance duties and have limited law enforcement authority. Some serve as park police, enforcing laws, investigating crimes, and making arrests.

To complicate this issue more, there are even different types of rangers. The more prevalent "park" rangers are found in national, state, and local public parks, but there are also "forest" rangers who work in our national, and state forests. Some agencies refer to their personnel as "park officers." 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 park police officer's authority, when in fact the ranger has the same legal authority as a municipal police officer.

The San Antonio Park Police’s primary duties are to preserve the peace, protect life and property, and to enforce the laws of Texas and San Antonio. Pursuant to these duties park police issue warnings, either verbal or written, issue citations, make arrests, and investigate crimes from minor misdemeanors to serious felonies. As required by law, all San Antonio Park Police must successfully complete the same curriculum and training and pass a peace officer licensing test, issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education. This extensive curriculum and training 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.

Park Police, like all peace officers in Texas, are required to meet on-going training standards. Police continue to receive training at the San Antonio Park Police Training Academy, a satellite center of the Alamo Area Regional Law Enforcement Academy. Some police have become instructors in various fields and can provide training to their fellow officers. The members of the San Antonio Park Police Division are proud of the job they do. When you meet a San Antonio Park Police officer, you are meeting a highly trained, committed, professional officer who works in the parks to keep you safe when you visit. Please feel free to browse this site and learn more about your San Antonio Park Police.