New York State Forest Rangers
Encyclopedia
The New York State Forest Rangers are law enforcement
officials of the Division of Forest Protection of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
. Forest Rangers are New York State police officers, authorized to enforce New York State Laws, Rules and Regulations, and carry firearms.
Forest Rangers fulfill the role of police officer
s, wildland firefighter
s and wilderness first responders. Their duty is to protect the state's forests and the people who use them from danger. Forest Rangers patrol 4300000 acres (17,401.5 km²) of Department-administered public lands and easements by vehicle, boat, ATV, snowmobile
, aircraft, bicycle, foot, skis or snowshoes. Each ranger is required to reside within the ranger district in which she/he is assigned but emergencies and special events will require them to work anywhere and at anytime. Rangers are often asked to assist other agencies with complex emergency or law enforcement incidents that have occurred in or near a forested area. Since New York state consists of 18600000 acres (75,271.6 km²) of forested lands, rangers are busy year-round.
The New York State Forest Ranger force is composed of 134 forest rangers, lieutenants, captains and directors stationed at locations across the state, with the greatest numbers located in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks.
Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
officials of the Division of Forest Protection of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is responsible for the conservation, improvement, and protection of natural resources within the U.S. state of New York. It was founded in 1970, replacing the previous Conservation Department...
. Forest Rangers are New York State police officers, authorized to enforce New York State Laws, Rules and Regulations, and carry firearms.
Forest Rangers fulfill the role of police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
s, wildland firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
s and wilderness first responders. Their duty is to protect the state's forests and the people who use them from danger. Forest Rangers patrol 4300000 acres (17,401.5 km²) of Department-administered public lands and easements by vehicle, boat, ATV, snowmobile
Snowmobile
A snowmobile, also known in some places as a snowmachine, or sled,is a land vehicle for winter travel on snow. Designed to be operated on snow and ice, they require no road or trail. Design variations enable some machines to operate in deep snow or forests; most are used on open terrain, including...
, aircraft, bicycle, foot, skis or snowshoes. Each ranger is required to reside within the ranger district in which she/he is assigned but emergencies and special events will require them to work anywhere and at anytime. Rangers are often asked to assist other agencies with complex emergency or law enforcement incidents that have occurred in or near a forested area. Since New York state consists of 18600000 acres (75,271.6 km²) of forested lands, rangers are busy year-round.
The New York State Forest Ranger force is composed of 134 forest rangers, lieutenants, captains and directors stationed at locations across the state, with the greatest numbers located in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks.
Fallen officers
Since the establishment of the New York State Forest Rangers, 1 ranger has died in the line of duty.| Officer | Date of Death | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Forest Ranger Raymond L. Murray | |
Aircraft accident |