Established in 1957, Lorain County Metro Parks Ranger Department is the law enforcement branch of the Lorain County Metro Parks. The Ranger Department is responsible for law enforcement of all the Metro Parks’ natural areas, wildlife areas, and facilities, on waterways and for wildlife resources as well as to assist park visitors. Our law enforcement remains necessary so that everyone who uses District facilities can enjoy himself or herself. Rangers help protect people from people, people from the natural resource and the natural resource from the people. Please observe the area’s rules and regulations so that others can enjoy resources in safety.

Lorain County Metro Parks Rangers possess Ohio Basic Peace Officer Certification. The rangers get their authority from the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) section 1545.13 which states “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…” They differ from other law enforcement agencies in that their work centers on parks and its facilities and their users, compared to a city or village, but they enforce the same laws and the Ohio Revised Code. They also enforce a separate set of laws known as park rules. These laws are specifically related to parks. The ORC states “The Board of Park Commissioners shall adopt such bylaws and rules as the Board deems advisable for the preservation of good order within and adjacent to parks and reservation of land…” The rangers also are responsible for some maintenance aspects of park management such as operating equipment and maintaining the various facilities.

All Lorain County Metro Park Rangers have completed the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) basic course. The course includes 600 hours of training, which covers topics such as the Ohio Revised Code, Patrol Tactics, and Crime Scene Management. This is the same training that city police officers and sheriff deputies receive. Rangers qualify twice a year with firearms and are also certified in OC, an aerosol inflammatory agent and the ASP, an intermediate impact weapon. They are re-certified annually on OC the ASP and CPR. Rangers attend various trainings sponsored by the Ohio Attorney General, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association along with many other law enforcement agencies. Rangers attend training for Hazardous Material awareness, which assists them in recognizing a Hazardous Material situation and how to respond. Most Metro Park Rangers have a degree in Natural Resources and are trained in wildlife, watercraft and natural resource issues.