California State Parks Graduates 28 Peace Officers from Law Enforcement Academy in Paradise

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California State Parks today announced the addition of 28 new peace officers that will “Live the Parks Life” as rangers and lifeguards in the nation’s largest state park system. Yesterday, family members, friends and department staff applauded the class of cadets as they received their badges. As peace officers, they will serve, protect and educate visitors to California’s 280 state parks, while protecting the state’s most significant natural and cultural resources.

During the ceremony, graduates were congratulated for their achievement and reminded of the important role they will serve as ambassadors to California’s amazing park units.

“You have chosen a career of serving others and the significance is not lost on us,” said Liz McGuirk, State Parks Chief Deputy Director. “You are willing to run toward danger-- coming to the aid of people who may be in their most desperate moments. We admire your courage.”

The graduates were also commended for enduring the devastating Camp Fire. Cadets had to evacuate their classroom at Butte Community College, which was used as a command center for the fire incident. Four cadets and a training officer lost their homes. Through the chaos, loss and struggle, this academy class maintained its motto, “Forged by fire, California strong!”

“We’re constantly pushed and tested throughout our lives. Although we may face many hardships, it is how we react and meet these hardships that make us who we are,” said David Wilson, this year’s Cadet Academy Valedictorian. “We have been forged in a remarkable way to serve a calling that so many great men and women have served before us.”  

This year’s class of 28 cadets were chosen from a field of approximately 800 applicants. For eight months, cadets participated in Basic Visitor Services Training. Their training included lessons in making physical arrests, conducting investigations, performing search and rescue activities, defensive tactics and firearms use. Cadets were also trained in visitor assistance, public education and interpretation, and park resource protection and management. Academy instruction prepares the students mentally, morally, emotionally and physically to enter and successfully complete the Field Training Officer’s Program, which is composed of 13 more weeks of on-the-job training.

The following is a list of the graduates and the state park unit or sector each will join:

Ranger Cadets

Park District

Sector

Bakke

Inland Empire District

Chino Sector

Barry

North Coast Redwoods District

Redwood Coast Sector

Baxter

Diablo Range District

Contra-Solano Sector

Bliese

Ocotillo Wells District

Herber/Picacho Sector

Burden

Inland Empire District

Silverwood Sector

Damron

San Diego Coast District

North Sector

Duft

Oceano Dunes District

Oceano Dunes SVRA

Gunvaldson

North Coast Redwoods District

Eel River Sector

Hausner

Monterey District

Asilomar Sector

Heitzmann

Bay Area District

Sonoma Sector (Trione-Anadel)

Johnson IV

Oceano Dunes District

Oceano Dunes SVRA

Kuhnhofer

Channel Coast District

Ventura Sector

Lubben

Tehachapi District

Tejon Sector

Mauk

Monterey District

Big Sur Sector

Meier

Oceano Dunes District

Oceano Dunes SVRA

Pompa

Central Valley District

San Joaquin Sector

Schneider

San Luis Obispo Coast District

Costal Sector

Weseloh

Sonoma-Mendocino Coast District

Mendocino Sector

Wheeler

Inland Empire District

Chino Sector

Williams

Santa Cruz District

Pajaro Sector

 

Lifeguard Cadets

Park District

Sector

Beardlsey

Orange Coast District

North Coast Sector

Hamilton

Central Valley District

San Joaquin Sector

Helble

Gold Fields District

Folsom Sector

Petersen

Monterey District

Monterey Sector

Pior

Central Valley District

Four Rivers Sector

Sanchez

San Diego Coast District

Aquatics

Valdez

Orange Coast District

North Coast Sector

Wilson

Angeles District

Malibu Sector

 

For more than 150 years, rangers and lifeguards have worked closely with the state's network of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to protect visitors to California's parks. Rangers and lifeguards also protect the natural, cultural and historic resources for future generations. Whether patrolling in desert landscapes, lakes, among wildlife and wildflowers, museums or in historic landmarks, it is truly a unique experience to work for California State Parks.

With more than 340 miles of coastline, 970 miles of lake and river frontage, 15,000 campsites and 4,500 miles of trails, California State Parks provides for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Off-highway motor vehicle recreation, boating activities, horseback riding, on- and off-road cycling, hiking, camping and rock climbing are some of the recreational activities enjoyed in 280 state parks.

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California State Parks provides for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high quality outdoor recreation.