Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

New Officers Help Provide Safe and Enjoyable Recreation for Park and Historic Site System's Record Numbers of Annual Visitors

Applications Accepted Through February 2025

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) is recruiting its next class of State Park Police Officer Trainees to help provide safe and enjoyable recreation to the state park system's record 84 million annual visitors. State Parks provides outstanding outdoor and cultural experiences while offering some of the safest beaches, trails, golf courses, pools, picnic areas, and entertainment venues in the nation. Applications for Park Police Officer Trainee positions will be accepted until February 28, 2025, and women are strongly encouraged to apply.

"Our attendance figures show just how much people rely on and love our parks and sites, we also want to find the next group of recruits with a calling for state service and the outdoors," said State Parks Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons. "Our New York State Park Police are among the first law enforcement agencies in the nation, and we are committed to the growing movement of 30x30 – the New York initiative to reach 30 percent of women in recruiting classes by 2030. Advancing women in policing is critical to improving public safety."

State Parks maintains a welcoming environment and offers new recruits hands-on training and classroom education in Criminal Procedure Law, Penal Law, Vehicle and Traffic Law, Park and Recreation Law and criminal investigations. Recruits will also receive training in firearms, first response, snowmobile and ATV operation, emergency vehicle operation, and a wide variety of other law enforcement-related topics and skills.

Once training and a competitive process including a New York State Civil Service exam is complete, appointments to the State Park Police Officer position are made. State Park Police Officers are permanent, full-time Police Officer positions, dedicated to preserving the peace in a wide variety of park environments around the state.

Typically, the State Park Police handle very large crowds, assist park goers, search for and rescue missing persons, make arrests, conduct criminal and non-criminal investigations, and provide emergency services wherever and whenever they are needed. Special services the State Park Police also offer include marine law enforcement and education duties on New York waterways, snowmobile enforcement and education, and high angle and swift water rescue teams.

In January 2025, the State Park Police Academy will graduate 29 new officers who will be assigned to serve New York's state parks and historic sites. Graduates reinforce what is learned in the classroom through field training during the first months of their new assignments. After that training, pay ranges from $73,796 - $93,129, based on work location, with performance-based salary increases to follow.

Click here for more information regarding the application process, agility testing, screening requirements and written exam.

Park Police Chief Michael Daddona said, "During my career, I have seen every level of this profession. It is a challenging and rewarding career. Our Park Police are relied upon to help people during extreme weather events, conduct criminal investigations and enforce laws on New York State's waterways and trails. Our new recruits will be joining a team of dedicated officers who provide a great public service to the people of New York State."

Park Police officers are highly trained specialists dedicated to the New York State Park Police's core values of P.R.I.D.E. – Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, and Excellence. They provide New York State residents and visitors with safe and enjoyable recreational experiences at State Parks and Historic Sites.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which saw a record 84 million visits in 2023. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518.474.0456. Join us in celebrating our Centennial throughout 2024, and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and the OPRHP Blog.