Despite an increase in crime, the number of law enforcement officers assigned to national parks has declined substantially since 2005, with park rangers now spread “dangerously thin,” according to a report released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.
The advocacy group said the number of permanent law enforcement rangers had declined by 15 percent from 2005 to 2021, while the number of seasonal law enforcement rangers deployed during peak seasons fell by 30 percent.
“Despite record levels of visitation, skyrocketing search and rescue operations, and rising crime, the number of law enforcement rangers in our national parks has steadily shrunk,” PEER said in its report. “While overall NPS staffing is down, the drop in law enforcement ranks is even more acute.”
