Current Position: Law Enforcement Park Ranger II
How long have you been with the Nevada Division of State Parks and in what capacity?
Currently one year and 10 months as a Law Enforcement Park Ranger
How did you become interested in working as a Park Ranger?
I was working as a Game Warden in Biloxi, Mississippi before Hurricane Katrina. My wife and I moved out here after the hurricane and I applied for the LE Park Ranger Position. I love the outdoors and enjoy working with people.
Describe a typical day at your job.
(If there is no such thing as a typical day, then please tell us about your primary responsibilities and duties.)
There is no typical day as a ranger. Within the past month I have started my day with making a DUI arrest and just this past week have stayed out until 11:00pm on a search and rescue mission to rescue two hikers that had become stranded on the side of the mountain. The job of a Park Ranger is very diverse. You must be able to adapt to many different situations and do many different types of work.
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
A minimum of 40.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
Mostly being outdoors and interacting with the public. I work in a beautiful park and I actually enjoy coming to work everyday.
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
I think balancing the job duties would be the greatest challenge. I could be helping the maintenance staff build a fence one moment and get a call on the radio to respond to and accident the next. Being a Law Enforcement Ranger puts the added responsibility on you and you have to be prepared to drop what you are doing and react to anything at any given time.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
As a Law Enforcement Officer you must complete a POST certified Law Enforcement Academy. Not positive, but I think a college degree is a requirement for the Park Ranger position now.
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
I had two years of law enforcement experience before I got here, but you can never have enough experience. There is no substitute for experience.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
We have been draining our lower lake so that we can get in there when it dries up to clear out some of the brush and vegetation to open it up and make it more visible to the public. We have also been mapping out a new trail that will allow the public to walk around the lower lake and be able to take in all the sights. We hope that when we fill the reservoir back up the wildlife will flourish for the visitors to enjoy.
If someone were interested in working as a Park Ranger, what advice could you give them?
Stay in school and get your education. I highly recommend being a Park Ranger for a career. It’s a great opportunity to work in a beautiful park and you also get to meet people from all over the world.
Please share any further thoughts you may have about working in the state park system:
Your career is what you make it. Working for the state park system is a way for you to learn a great deal about the outdoors as well as contribute to our society by preserving and conserving our natural resources and history for future generations.
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