The New York State Forest Rangers (NYS Forest Rangers), is one of the

law enforcement agencies A law enforcement agency (LEA) is any government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws. Jurisdiction LEAs which have their ability to apply their powers restricted in some way are said to operate within a jurisdiction. LEA ...

of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Forest Protection. NYS Forest Rangers are New York State police officers, authorized to enforce New York State Laws, Rules and Regulations, and carry firearms.

Overview

Forest Rangers fulfill the role of

police officer A police officer (also called a policeman and, less commonly, a policewoman) is a warranted law employee of a police force. In most countries, "police officer" is a generic term not specifying a particular rank. In some, the use of the ...

s, wildland firefighters and wilderness first responders. Their duty is to protect the state's forests and the people who use them from danger. Forest Rangers patrol of Department-administered public lands and easements by vehicle, boat, ATV,

snowmobile A snowmobile, also known as a Ski-Doo, snowmachine, sled, motor sled, motor sledge, skimobile, or snow scooter, is a motorized vehicle designed for winter travel and recreation on snow. It is designed to be operated on snow and ice and does not ...

, 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 any time. 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 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.

Training

Every Forest Ranger must successfully complete a rigorous 26-week Basic Training School, currently held at the

SUNY-ESF Ranger School The SUNY-ESF Ranger School (formerly the New York State Ranger School), on the east branch of the Oswegatchie River near Wanakena, New York, offers Associate degree#United States, A.A.S. degrees in forest and natural resources management. Establis ...

in Wanakena, NY. Upon graduation, Rangers are assigned to a geographic area in one of nine regions of New York. Each Ranger is trained and equipped for immediate response to outbreaks of wildfires, and also provides training to volunteers and local fire departments in wildland firefighting techniques.

Qualifications

New NYS Forest Rangers must: be a resident of New York, be at least 20 years old, possess a New York driver's license, be physically strong and active and able to pass a medical examination and physical ability test, and be able to pass a character background investigation and psychological evaluation. Forest Rangers are represented by the Police Benevolent Association of New York State (PBA of New York State), a law enforcement labor union representing the interests of approximately 1,200 members of the New York State Agency Police Services Unit (APSU).

History

In May, 1885, Governor David B. Hill signed Chapter 283 into law, which authorized the appointment of the Fire Wardens. The Fire Wardens were overseen by the Forest Commission, which later became the Department of Environmental Conservation. The title of Forest Ranger was created in chapter 444 of the laws of 1912.

Fallen officers

Since the establishment of the New York State Forest Rangers, one ranger has died while on duty. Forest Ranger Raymond L. Murray passed on October 9, 1970, due to an aircraft accident. The Officer Down Memorial Page
/ref>

References

{{reflist

External links

Official websiteHistory of the New York State Forest Rangers
Environmental agencies in New York (state)