Beach patrol unit at St. George Island State Park. |
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In 1980, the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Division of Law Enforcement created an auxiliary
law enforcement officer program to augment its full-time work force known as the Park Police Reserve Officer
Program. The Park Police Reserve Officer Program provides those with law enforcement backgrounds the
opportunity to use their skills and experience as volunteer law enforcement officers in any one of Florida’s
161 state parks.
After completing a Field Training Program, Reserve Officers operate in the same capacity as full-time
officers, protecting both the visitors and the natural resources within award-winning state park system.
Florida’s nearly 700,000 acres of state parks encompass a variety of ecosystems--beaches, rivers, lakes,
wetlands, springs, historic sites and gardens. With a diverse landscape to protect, patrol duties may
include the use of 4x4 vehicles, ATVs, personal water craft, patrol boats or mountain bikes.
With increasing visitation and decreasing areas of natural habitat, Reserve Officers, fully sworn and with
all the rights and responsibilities of full-time staff, are welcome additions to DEP’s law enforcement team.
With their expertise, the Division is better able to protect the millions of visitors who come to enjoy the
state’s natural and cultural resources each year.
In addition to patrol duties, Reserve Officers sometimes serve as instructors with the Division’s Training
Center, teaching the necessary skills and knowledge to the next generation of officers dedicated to
safeguarding Florida’s citizens and our environment.
For more information about the Reserve Officer Program, contact
Captain George LaMont or
Reserve Chief William Minton.
Reserve Officer Program Links
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