| Home | Bookmark | Tell | Active petitions in over 75 countries | Follow GoPetition |
Restore the authority of our Phoenix Park Rangers
Published by Jacque Vandermate on Nov 10, 2008
184 Signatures 
|
Target: Phoenix, Arizona residents
Region: United States of America
Background (Preamble):
Faced with increased criminal activity, park ranger's supervisors asked police to determine whether rangers need more training and tools to do their jobs.
But police came back and said that rangers should be stripped of the authority they have been given. They have removed their handcuffs. They have barred them from using the police database to see if the person they are citing has a warrant. Rangers are no longer allowed to detain persons violating laws in our parks, either for arrest by police, or to receive a citation written by the rangers.
In the west valley this year alone, rangers have detained more than 70 warrant-holders in Phoenix parks until police could pick them up.
Under the new rules, rangers are told that they will no longer have access to information to confirm identities or to know if the person has a warrant. They can no longer detain persons in our parks. They may write a citation, but if the person walks away they are told to just let them go and void the ticket.
Our park rangers in Phoenix have been reduced to the same level as a regular citizen. If they see something happen they are required to just call the police and let the illegal activity happen until the police arrive 30 or more minutes later.
This action, reducing the authority of our park rangers, has left our parks in a very vulnerable position. Crimes in the park will increase without the authority on site. More people working on the problems in the park, rather than a police department, who often do not even respond to calls if busy with other business.
But police came back and said that rangers should be stripped of the authority they have been given. They have removed their handcuffs. They have barred them from using the police database to see if the person they are citing has a warrant. Rangers are no longer allowed to detain persons violating laws in our parks, either for arrest by police, or to receive a citation written by the rangers.
In the west valley this year alone, rangers have detained more than 70 warrant-holders in Phoenix parks until police could pick them up.
Under the new rules, rangers are told that they will no longer have access to information to confirm identities or to know if the person has a warrant. They can no longer detain persons in our parks. They may write a citation, but if the person walks away they are told to just let them go and void the ticket.
Our park rangers in Phoenix have been reduced to the same level as a regular citizen. If they see something happen they are required to just call the police and let the illegal activity happen until the police arrive 30 or more minutes later.
This action, reducing the authority of our park rangers, has left our parks in a very vulnerable position. Crimes in the park will increase without the authority on site. More people working on the problems in the park, rather than a police department, who often do not even respond to calls if busy with other business.
Petition:
We, the undersigned, call on the city of Phoenix and the city council to restore the tools and authority to our park rangers, in order to make our Phoenix parks a clean and safe place for resident, we ask that:
1. Park ranger’s authority and tools be reinstated.
2. Our police force regard rangers as part of the enforcement team.
3. Park rangers again be allowed to detain persons violating laws in our parks and be able to contact police to verify a person’s identification and to know whether or not the detained person has a warrant.
1. Park ranger’s authority and tools be reinstated.
2. Our police force regard rangers as part of the enforcement team.
3. Park rangers again be allowed to detain persons violating laws in our parks and be able to contact police to verify a person’s identification and to know whether or not the detained person has a warrant.
The Restore the authority of our Phoenix Park Rangers petition to Phoenix, Arizona residents was written by Jacque Vandermate and is in the category Neighborhood Living at GoPetition. Contact author here. Petition tags: phoenix park rangers
