| Revision as of 07:06, 4 June 2004 editPostdlf (talk | contribs)Administrators91,177 editsmNo edit summary← Previous edit | Revision as of 18:21, 15 July 2004 edit undo68.42.11.91 (talk)No edit summaryNext edit → | ||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| '''The United States Park Police''' are the oldest uniformed ] ] agency, with jurisdiction in all ] areas and certain other government lands. In addition to performing the normal crime prevention, investigation, and apprehension functions of a urban police force, the Park Police are responsible for guarding many of the |
'''The United States Park Police''' are the oldest uniformed ] ] agency, with jurisdiction in all ] areas and certain other government lands. In addition to performing the normal crime prevention, investigation, and apprehension functions of a urban police force, the Park Police are responsible for guarding many of the famous monuments in the ], and also provides protection for the ] and visiting dignitaries. The Park Police are a unit of the National Park Service, which is a branch of the ]. | ||
| Originally known as the ''Park Watchmen'', they were formed in ] by ] to protect federal property only in the ]. The ''Watchmen'' were given the same powers and duties as metropolitan ] police in ], and their name changed to the present U.S. Park Police in ]. Their authority first began to expand outside DC in ], and today they are primarily responsible for the ] in ] and the ] in ], as well as the many designated areas in the Washington area, which includes neighboring counties in ] and ]. | Originally known as the ''Park Watchmen'', they were formed in ] by ] to protect federal property only in the ]. The ''Watchmen'' were given the same powers and duties as metropolitan ] police in ], and their name changed to the present U.S. Park Police in ]. Their authority first began to expand outside DC in ], and today they are primarily responsible for the ] in ] and the ] in ], as well as the many designated areas in the Washington area, which includes neighboring counties in ] and ]. | ||
Revision as of 18:21, 15 July 2004
The United States Park Police are the oldest uniformed federal law enforcement agency, with jurisdiction in all National Park Service areas and certain other government lands. In addition to performing the normal crime prevention, investigation, and apprehension functions of a urban police force, the Park Police are responsible for guarding many of the famous monuments in the United States, and also provides protection for the President and visiting dignitaries. The Park Police are a unit of the National Park Service, which is a branch of the Department of the Interior.
Originally known as the Park Watchmen, they were formed in 1791 by George Washington to protect federal property only in the District of Columbia. The Watchmen were given the same powers and duties as metropolitan Washington police in 1882, and their name changed to the present U.S. Park Police in 1919. Their authority first began to expand outside DC in 1929, and today they are primarily responsible for the Gateway National Recreation Area in New York City and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco, as well as the many designated areas in the Washington area, which includes neighboring counties in Maryland and Virginia.
Park Police must be U.S. citizens over the age of 21, but under 35 when they first apply, with some education past the high school level or the equivalent. Upon completion of training, officers are initially assigned to the Washington area, where the largest contingent of Park Police are located.