LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville now has a new chief park ranger. 

Mayor Craig Greenberg appointed James Brown, a 20-year law enforcement veteran who most recently served as a Captain with the Oldham County Sheriff's Department, as chief park ranger for Louisville Parks and Recreation.

Brown's duties will include overseeing the ranger program and hiring two additional park rangers to strengthen to help ensure public safety. Under his leadership, park-related laws and ordinances will be enforced. Brown will also be responsible for develop procedures and policies to further define and support the Park Ranger Unit's mission.

Brown's hiring marks a return to Louisville's Park Ranger program, which was dissolved in the 1970s.

Greenberg praised Brown's background and qualifications in a written statement. 

"When we went through the interview process for this crucial position, Chief Brown became a clear leader throughout because of his experience, attention to detail, leadership skills, and extremely friendly demeanor," Greenberg said in a news release Friday. "We're fortunate to have him aboard to grow the Park Ranger program."

Ron Johnson was one of the city's original park rangers in the 1970s. Back then, park rangers patrolled in green-painted police cars, offering assistance to visitors.

"Not only did I cover parks, (but) we covered community centers and swimming pools," Johnson said. "... giving them information or what part of the park they needed to be at for certain functions, just helping them and getting them along their way."

Ronald Johnson, former park ranger

Pictured: this frame grab taken from video shows Ronald Johnson, who served as a park ranger in Louisville during the 1970s. (WDRB image)

The new rangers will work alongside the Louisville Metro Police Department and other agencies as sworn public safety officers, with the authority to enforce both local and state laws.

Louisville park rangers will:

  • Enforce all state and local laws, ordinances, and park regulations within the Louisville Parks and Recreation purview.
  • Issue uniform citations and makes physical arrests, when necessary.
  • Patrol parks to assess safety issues, violations of the law, addresses and manages noted concerns, and maintains high visibility with park visitors.
  • Create and amend policies and procedures relating to the Park Ranger program, security and enforcement.
  • Implements the Park Ranger program, monitoring outcomes of that program, and reporting those outcomes.
  • Ensure all park safety and security measures are met.
  • Engage park visitors regularly through face-to-face interactions while patrolling parks and open spaces to ensure positive park experience.

In addition to his law enforcement experience, Brown earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Government from Eastern Kentucky University and a master's degree in Organizational Leadership from the Indiana Institute of Technology.

While serving in Oldham County, Brown oversaw fleet operations and Information Technology while writing grants that allowed for substantial upgrades in the department's equipment.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge of ensuring that our parks and facilities are clean, safe and accessible for everyone," Brown said in a written statement. "And it's going to be a lot of fun to get out and meet park users of all ages and abilities."

Related Coverage:

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Louisville man remembers days as park ranger as city plans for new program

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