Consultant doesn't back arming rangers in metro parks in Columbus area of central Ohio

10/6/2013

COLUMBUS — A consultant doesn’t think arming rangers is a good idea despite the rangers’ requests to be allowed to carry weapons for self-protection and to protect parks visitors in central Ohio.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that the consultant hired by metro parks officials in the Columbus area recommends that parks officials create a separate armed police force or pay an existing law-enforcement agency to patrol the parks.

Metro parks officials repeatedly have rejected rangers’ requests to arm themselves.

The study notes that metro parks in the Cleveland, Toledo and Dayton areas of Ohio arm their rangers.

A union official representing the rangers say they should be armed.

Parks commissioners have not yet commented on the study.