Employment Information

DEFINITION

This is professional law enforcement work in the Department of Natural Resources' Division of State Parks.

An employee in this class is responsible for providing law enforcement services and promoting security and safety in an assigned zone. Work encompasses all aspects of law enforcement including the power of arrest and search and seizure, which is authorized by law in the Revised Statutes of the State of Missouri. Work involves issuing citations and warnings to visitors who violate state laws or park regulations, conducting investigations, and providing first aid in cases of injury. Overall plans and activities follow established policies and procedures. General supervision is received from the park ranger sergeant in the region to which the employee is assigned; however, the employee plans and implements his/her own daily work assignments.

Any one position may not involve all of the specified duties or knowledge, skills and abilities, nor are the listed examples exhaustive.

EXAMPLES OF WORK

• Enforces the laws of Missouri and park rules and regulations by use of citations, warnings and custodial arrests.
• Prepares criminal cases for prosecution, makes court appearances as required, and reports final case dispositions.
• Patrols the assigned area by emergency equipped vehicle, on foot, and/or by use of specialized vehicles (motorcycle, boat, ATV, etc.).
• Provides protection and security for park visitors and their property.
• Provides first aid and CPR to injured visitors and/or employees.
• Coordinates and conducts search and rescue/recovery operations.
• Organizes and conducts investigations and makes reports related to homicides, suicides, drowning and motor vehicle and personal injury accidents in the assigned area.
• Conducts and cooperates in investigations involving narcotic drugs with other law enforcement agencies.
• Seizes, collects and processes evidence while maintaining a proper chain of custody for use in criminal prosecution.
• Participates in and/or coordinates law enforcement services at special events in assigned facilities.
• Controls and removes dangerous, injured or diseased animals from areas where they could harm themselves or visitors.
• Assists park visitors by providing information and directions and answering questions.
• Prepares and submits financial reports and purchase orders.
• Maintains accurate, up-to-date records and files for assigned facilities.
• Promotes public relations by giving educational programs to schools, civic groups and park users concerning the state park system, law enforcement and security.
• Conducts annual physical inventories of all accountable division property.
• Performs safety and security inspections in assigned facilities.
• Provides security for collected fees and funds and makes bank deposits as required.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

EXAMPLES OF KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Working knowledge of the procedures, techniques and practices used in law enforcement work.
• Working knowledge of Missouri statutes relating to state parks and criminal law.
• Working knowledge of the policies, programs and procedures of state park operations.
• Working knowledge of the fundamental principles of safety practices and methods.
• Ability to administer first aid and CPR.
• Ability to communicate effectively; to perceive color differences; to hear verbal and radio communications; and to interact with individuals of diverse social, cultural, economic and educational backgrounds.
• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with other employees, government officials and the general public.
• Ability to develop and maintain clear and concise records, reports and files.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a valid Missouri vehicle operator's license.
• Ability to operate specialized vehicles skillfully after prescribed training.
• Ability to display a proficiency in physical arrest tactics and firearms usage after prescribed training period.

Salary and Benefits

Salaries

Salaries are comparable to other state law enforcement agencies.

Vacation, Sick Leave, Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Holidays, Deferred Compensation and Retirement

Rangers are provided with State of Missouri employee benefits, which can be reviewed here.

Uniforms and Equipment

The department provides all uniforms and equipment to the employee with the exception of footwear. The employee is responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of uniforms and equipment.

Vehicles

Rangers are provided a state-issued vehicle and are required to live within 60 minutes of their assigned facility.

Rangers are subject to call-out 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

MoCareers

Qualifications

There are two different entry-level positions within the Missouri State Park Rangers. The only difference between the two positions is the amount of experience required.

The park ranger recruit position requires an individual to have 60 or more credit hours from an accredited college or university and eligible to be commissioned as a peace officer or two or more years of honorable service in the United States armed forces or equivalent service in the National Guard or military reserves and eligible to be commissioned as a peace officer.

The park ranger position requires completion of a training program from a certified law enforcement training academy and eligible to be commissioned as a peace officer.

Both positions require applicants to:

• Successfully pass a physical performance test. (Additional Information)
• Appear before an oral interview board.
• Successfully pass an intensive background investigation.
• Have or be able to attain a valid Missouri driver's license.
• Be age 21 or older.
• Officers will not have tattoos or brands that a reasonable person would find offensive, such as tattoos or brands depicting or supporting criminal behavior, drug usage, nudity, profanity, promiscuity, subversive groups, bigotry, etc. Officers will not have any visible tattoos which would be seen while in uniform. It should be noted that all officers will become bicycle certified and shorts are an authorized part of the bicycle uniform.
• Successfully complete a psychological evaluation.
• Successfully complete a medical exam that includes drug screening.
• Successfully complete a Peace Officer Standards and Training certified law enforcement academy and be eligible to be certified as a peace officer in the state of Missouri under Chapter 590 RSMO.
• All rangers must be able to participate in and complete annual in-service training in firearms, expandable baton, defensive tactics, emergency vehicle operation and defensive driving, criminal law updates, first aid and CPR, and pepper mace.

When either of these two positions are open for recruitment, they will be posted on Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ website.

Step 1:

When a vacancy exists, the Department of Natural Resources' Human Resources Program will post the opportunity on our job opportunities page. Qualified applicants complete and submit a Missouri Department of Natural Resources Application.

Step 2:

Applications are compiled and sent to the Law Enforcement Manager for review.

Step 3:

Letters of interest are sent to eligible candidates notifying them how to schedule an appointment for the physical agility test.

Step 4:

Schedule applicants for physical agility test. (Additional Information)

Step 5:

Conduct physical agility test. All applicants must sign a waiver of liability releasing DNR and its employees from any liability if an applicant is injured while performing the agility test.

Step 6:

Upon successful completion of agility test, applicants will be scheduled for an oral interview to be held the following day.

Step 7:

Oral interviews are conducted and all applicants are rated and ranked from the top to the bottom. Applicants complete a personal history questionnaire and an authorization for release of information form to be used in the background investigation.

Step 8:

Extensive background investigations are conducted on the top two candidates.

Step 9:

Select the top candidate, complete the hiring justification and send through channels for approval.

Step 10:

Send a letter of a conditional offer of employment to the top candidate explaining that the candidate must successfully pass medical and psychological examinations. The letter will give the dates, times and locations for these examinations.

Step 11:

Applicant completes a medical history questionnaire and takes to the medical exam.

Step 12:

If applicant successfully completes the medical and psychological exam, the applicant is notified and given a starting date to begin employment with the Missouri State Park Rangers.