POSITION SUMMARY FOR PARK OFFICER

Pre-Employment Park Officer Fitness Testing (.pdf)

Job Duties:

Serves as law enforcement officer; patrols park assigned under Division of Parks and Recreation on land and/or water to protect park property and ensure visitor safety by enforcing Ohio Revised Code and ODNR rules and regulations, (e.g., issues citations, serves warrants, makes arrests, investigates criminal violations and accidents, testifies in court); prepares and maintains records and reports.

Assists park visitors with problems; provides information; assists in emergency situations and administers first aid when necessary; prepares and presents programs for civic groups and assists with special programs (e.g., trail hikes, camp outs, nature programs); acts as liaison with other agencies, parks, schools and fairs.

Performs routine maintenance of park facilities and grounds (e.g., mowing, litter pickup, maintains trails, removes snow); performs enforcement and safety related tasks (e.g., posts signs, constructs barricades, maintains boundaries); performs routine maintenance on patrol vehicles (e.g., changes oil, checks tires, cleans vehicles).

Acts as lead worker over seasonal officers and other assigned personnel; provides orientation and training to new park officers; assists with other park operations (e.g., registers campers, collects dock fees).

Minimum Requirements

To meet the minimum requirements for Park Officer you MUST:

• Be 21 years of age
• Have a valid Ohio Drivers License
• Have a current Ohio Peace Officer’s Basic Training Certificate (OPOTA certified)

Since competition for this position is quite high, most successful candidates have a background in Natural Resources Administration, Parks and Recreation Management, an associate’s degree in Enforcement, or law enforcement/public safety background. Knowledge of first aid and safety practices, CPR certification, and public speaking are an asset to those seeking the Park Officer position. A Park Officer must annually qualify in the use of firearms and annually pass a physical fitness test. The individual must pass a background investigation, drug test, polygraph test, pre-employment fitness test and psychological test as a condition of employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is OPOTA?

OPOTA stands for the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy. The Attorney General through the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission, which represents Ohio’s law enforcement community, administers it. The commission establishes uniform courses of training for law enforcement officers and private security throughout Ohio, and regulates the basic training curriculum for prospective officers. This curriculum consists of more than 100 subjects ranging from criminal investigation to the use of firearms. For more information and the OPOTA schedule, please click here.

Do I have to posses OPOTA certification prior to being hired, or can it be obtained after employment?

You must have a current Ohio Peace Officers Training Certificate at the time you apply for a law enforcement position with the Division of Parks and Recreation.

How do I become a Park Officer?

The Park Officer classification is used within the ODNR Division of Parks and Recreation. This classification is in bargaining unit 2 and is therefore covered by the Fraternal Order of Police/Ohio Labor Council collective bargaining agreement. The following outlines permanent, part-time permanent, and seasonal (intermittent) positions used by the Division and the application and selection processes.

Full-Time Permanent Park Officer position: The position is filled in accordance with the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) collective bargaining agreement. The vacancy is filled by a full time permanent park officer through an internal transfer process. If a transfer does not exist, then the vacancy is posted for all applicants, however, first consideration will be given to the FOP part-time park officer that applies.

Part-Time Permanent Park Officer position: The position is filled in accordance with the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) collective bargaining agreement. The vacancy is filled by a part-time permanent park officer through an internal transfer process. If a transfer does not exist, then the vacancy is posted for all applicants. The applicants are subject to a prescreen and interview process.

When applying for a park officer position, please attach a copy of your current peace officer certification. Prior to employment as a park officer, the applicant must pass a background investigation to include a psychological evaluation and polygraph test as well as pre-employment drug test, and be 21 years of age.

To learn more about Ohio State Parks, click here.

For further information on employment with the Division of Parks and Recreation, contact Flo Horton in Human Resources at (614) 265-6525 or florence.horton@dnr.state.oh.us.