Louisville considers adding fully trained police force to city parks system

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville's parks could soon have more than just rangers keeping watch as Metro Council considers a plan to transform the program into a fully trained park police force.

For people like Mitzi Wilson, who has spent a lifetime in Baxter Square Park, the idea sounds like a welcome change.

"I've been using it all my life," Wilson said. "I think that's a great idea — somebody else being here to check the parks and make sure the parks and stuff is OK."

Right now, Louisville has just one ranger covering more than 120 parks. Chief James Brown, who oversees the program, said the job can be overwhelming.

"It's a very daunting task and challenging, trying to get to as many of 124 parks as possible," Brown said. "It is a fully sworn law enforcement position, the same authority as Louisville Metro Police have."

Supporters said the new ordinance would raise the bar. Instead of requiring only a high school diploma and minimum age of 21, applicants would need to already be certified police officers — giving them the same training and arrest powers as LMPD.

Bridget Frailley, who helps oversee park safety, said the new standards would strengthen the program.

"We're requiring our officers that apply to already have a certification, which is a police officer, professional standards certification," she said. "That is important so that we can maintain professionalism within our department."

Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins, one of the sponsors, said the change is overdue.

"It makes no sense to make all these awesome investments our community asked us to put in these places and we don't have a layer of protection," Hawkins said. "I believe that having park rangers that also have arrest powers will be one of many solutions that will make our communities a lot safer."

In the Russell neighborhood, Wilson said neighbors just want safe spaces to gather, grill and watch their kids play.

"We sit down, we grill, we talk, play cards and just find the time to watch the kids while they are playing around," she said.

Metro Council heard the proposal Thursday and is expected to vote on it in the near future.

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