As we enjoy summer, we are bound to come across Park Police, and I, at least have always wondered, “are the Park Police ‘real’ police”? Can they arrest people?”
The short answer is “yes.”
But lawyers are incapable of short answers when long, confusing answers will do. So here’s a longer one, with citations.
Peace Officers
Minnesota statutes grant broad authority to designate “Peace Officers” throughout the state to a Board of Peace Officers Standards and Training. Minn. Stat. Minn. Stat. §626.84.
A peace officer is someone licensed by the Board. The Department of Public Safety promulgates Administrative Rules (§6700) which regulate how the Board can certify peace officers, including minimum training, education, and character standards.
The statute identifies a few specific categories of officers, including Transit Police officers, but the rest are left to the political subdivisions to designate in accordance with the Board’s standards.
Park Police
In addition to those categories of peace officers specifically authorized by the statute, a peace officer also includes,
an employee . . . of a . . . law enforcement agency who is licensed by the board, charged with the prevention and detection of crime and the enforcement of the general criminal laws of the state and who has the full power of arrest.
The Park and Recreation Board Code of Ordinances (attached to the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances) identifies a “Police officer” as “[a]ny person employed by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board of the City of Minneapolis who meets the definition of peace officer in Minnesota Statutes Section 624.84, subdivision 1(c).” PB6.5-1 Pk. Bd. Ord. No. 2006-101, § 1, 5-3-06.
Park Patrol Agents
About half the people wearing police uniforms and driving Park Police vehicles, however, are “Park Patrol Agents.”
Park Patrol Agents are not licensed peace officers, although they have the authority to issue citations.
Enjoy your summer, from the Barry S. Edwards Law Office!
Leave a Reply