The San Antonio Park Police form a Division of the Parks and Recreation Department.
They are certified peace officers whose mission it is to provide security for visitors to City of San
Antonio Parks and Recreation facilities.
In the course of their everyday duties, San Antonio Park Police often encounter people who are not
familiar with the law enforcement role of the park ranger. Generally speaking, a "ranger" is a law
enforcement officer whose jurisdiction and/or responsibilities center around natural resources.
However, there can be considerable differences in the actual work performed by rangers in different
agencies. Rangers at one agency may primarily function as naturalists who manage and interpret
natural resources for the public while others may perform park maintenance duties and have limited
law enforcement authority. Some serve as park police, enforcing laws, investigating crimes, and
making arrests.
