Louisville park rangers look to become full-fledged police department

Louisville officials are asking Metro Council to make the park ranger program an official police force.

The city created the park rangers in 2024, in response to residents’ concerns about safety in public parks. Currently, the program only has one employee: Chief James Brown. Rangers are considered “special police” under state law. Although they have the power to investigate and arrest people suspected of breaking the law, they don’t get the same benefits that a “lawfully organized police department” would — namely, access to training and grants.

Brown said last week that lacking that official designation for the park ranger program has hindered officer recruitment. He’s currently looking to hire a full-time officer or two part-time officers.

“All it is is trying to get some regulatory