County Seeks Seasonal Park Rangers

By ALFRED BRANCH (Patch Staff)

The Westchester County Department of Public Safety has begun accepting applications for seasonal park rangers to patrol county parks this summer, the department announced this week.

Applications are due by Feb. 19 and are available online at the Department of Public Safety’s web pages: http://publicsafety.westchestergov.com/

“Working under the supervision of county police officers, park rangers help to ensure that Westchester’s parks and pools are safe and enjoyable for those who use them,” said Public Safety Commissioner George N. Longworth in a statement.

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Uniformed park rangers “assist park users, provide information on park rules and procedures, help in searches for lost children, perform basic first aid on occasion and make regular security checks of buildings and facilities.”First-time park rangers are paid $14 hourly. Salaries are higher for those who have worked as a ranger for the county before.

To qualify, applicants must be a high school graduate, at least 19 years of age, a United States citizen, a resident of Westchester County and possess a valid New York State driver’s license by the time of appointment.

Additionally, accepted candidates must attend a 14-day training program at the Westchester County Police Academy. According to Longworth, many police officers in Westchester, including himself, had their first exposure to a law enforcement career by working as a seasonal park ranger.