Public Safety Department
Stark County Park Rangers exist not only to protect parkland and wildlife, but also park visitors. Park Rangers strive to keep Stark Parks a safe and enjoyable place to visit, and do so by being certified peace officers through the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA). They are sworn and commissioned officers with full powers of arrest. Each Ranger goes through multiple months of field training to learn specific job duties pertaining to park policing. They have the ability to enforce state laws, including wildlife, watercraft, and traffic laws, as well as Stark County Park District ordinances.
Park Rangers are also trained in ice water rescue and general first-aid and CPR. You may see Rangers working closely with other police departments in Stark County as we have a mutual-aid agreement with law enforcement entities across the county.


Patrol Methods
Stark County Rangers are able to keep parks, lakes, and hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails safe by use of various patrol methods, including patrol cars, foot patrol, bicycle patrol, ATV patrol, and boat patrol.

Meet Gunnar the K-9 Ranger
Gunnar, a Belgian Malinois and German shepherd mix, became the first K-9 Ranger at Stark Parks in early 2014. He is trained in narcotics tracking and detection, search and rescue, suspect apprehension, and article searching. With his handler, Sergeant Ranger Crock, Gunnar also appears at many community events just to say hello and receive some extra attention.
Community Policing
Stark County Park Rangers utilize a community-oriented policing approach. You may see a Ranger during Stark Parks' Ranger for a Day, Catfish with Cops, and Back the Blue Bass Tournament. They also attend National Night Out and many other local events.

Ranger Cadet Program
The Ranger Cadet program gives young adults ages 15 to 20 the chance to explore, observe, and participant in natural resource enforcement with Stark Parks Rangers.
Cadets learn wildlife laws, firearm safety, and various patrol methods including vehicle ride-alongs, bikes, and watercraft.
Ranger Commendations and Complaints
Please use this form to submit a commendation or complaint regarding a member of the Stark County Park District Public Safety Department.
Recent Posts
Derby Circuit-Spring and Summer 2022 Stark Parks is happy to announce all derbies will be returning this spring. Like so many programs, the annual children’s derbies were put on hold… More
Stark County Park District is applying to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ 2022 Natureworks Grant Program to build an accessible fishing boardwalk at Fry Family Park. It will span… More
The Stark County Board of Park Commissioners today named DAN MOEGLIN the new Executive Director of Stark Parks and named DEREK GORDON to the newly created position of Deputy Director… More
A new natural history timeline exhibit called Ohio Bio is now open to visitors. Located inside the Canalway Center at the Exploration Gateway, the exhibit shows some of the significant… More
Join us at Walborn Reservoir on July 23 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to try out canoes, kayaks, and stand up paddleboards on the water. During this free event,… More
The popular concert series that combines the spontaneous sounds of nature and people enjoying a park with the orchestrated sounds of musicians runs through July and August this summer. The… More
During the month of June the Natural Resources Department will be planting thousands of native plugs in a wetland being restored at Tam O' Shanter Park. Volunteer help is needed!… More
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began an ongoing levee project near the Tuscarawas River in August 2020. This is a long term project that will affect this section of… More
We hope you enjoy the observations of eagle watching volunteers and invite you to stop by the nest site located on the west side of Walborn Reservoir. Laws protecting eagles… More
Humble Beginnings (1960s and 1970s) The year was 1967. Although Ohio’s Department of Natural Resources had been established 18 years before in 1949, it was three years before the establishment… More