A friend of my mine recently told me about a park ranger job opening at a nearby forest preserve. I like forest preserves but I don't want to be a cop.
A friend of my mine recently told me about a park ranger job opening at a nearby forest preserve. I like forest preserves but I don't want to be a cop.
I know everyone has said alot already but I've thought about this alot. Some do have law enforcement commissions such that they are armed and pretty copish.
It used to be different though. In 1970 in Yosemite national park some rangers tried to evict many people camping in and trashing Stoneman meadow which resulted in them being attacked with rocks... which resulted in injuries and the summoning of the national guard.... which resulted in the increase in armed rangers above. There are/were old school rangers from prior who refused to carry guns even after a law enforcement commission was required due to them not wanting to be cops.
on the other hand protecting natural resources from people fucking it up with atvs or littering is incredibly important thankless hard work. and of course, especially in the Backcountry, being there to save a lost or injured park goer is absolutely critical. you could actually save lifes as a ranger instead of shotting dogs as a city cop.
Basically it depends on the gig. But broadly no they're good with the potential to be shitty in specific cases.