A Day Gone Bad

We often hear, "You are a Ranger?  You have the best job ever."  My response is usually, yes... yes we do.  And I think to myself, but when it goes bad, it can go really bad.  Most people have this idea of what we do, and it generally does not involve anything bad happening.  People sometimes forget, anything that happens outside of the park, can happen inside the park.  Today was one of those days for Rangers out at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.  A good day goes bad.  Rangers were first on scene to a fatal car crash  near the entrance to Cedar Ridge Picnic area (Channel 6 News coverage).  Three teenagers, out of school for a snow day and on the way to go sledding, were in a vehicle that left the roadway, overturned, and struck a tree.  Rangers assisted with rescue and first aid until medics arrived.  One of the passengers was pronounced dead at the scene and the other two were transported to a local area hospital in stable condition.

Our hearts are heavy.  Our thoughts are with the teens' family and friends.

On The Run

Battelle Darby Creek - 1/27/2016

During the morning shift, the Ranger on duty was patrolling the wetland lot located on Darby Creek Drive.  He observed a Toyota parked in the grass, tucked in behind a bulletin board as if it were hiding.  Inside said Toyota was 4 male individuals getting some much needed beauty sleep.  The Ranger was in the process of running a check on the license plate when the driver decided he didn't want to stick around.  It may have been because he knew the Ranger was about to figure out said Toyota was stolen.  The driver fled out of the parking lot onto Darby Creek Drive, just as the Ranger's mobile data terminal alarms alerted the Ranger to the status of said Toyota.

The Ranger began to follow the vehicle but did not pursue because of the dangers to public safety on the roadway.  Franklin County Sheriff and Madison County Sheriff offices were notified.  Rangers and deputies checked the area but the vehicle was not located.  Battelle Darby Creek is a big place, often giving the impression it is remote and unpatrolled.  Ranger presence has a way of dispelling that illusion.

Welcome New Rangers

Rangers being  sworn in by Director Tim Moloney

Last night at the Board of Park Commissioners meeting, held at Prairie Oaks Metro Park, three new Rangers were sworn in and received their commission.  These Rangers spent the last 6 months or so attending the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy, where they successfully completed the requirements of the academy and are now certified peace officers.  The commission they received through being sworn in gives them the authority to enforce state laws as well as the rules and regulations of the park district.

Rangers with the Board of Park Commissioners 

Greg Lashutka,  Jeff McNealy and Jim McGregor

Rangers will now be assigned to patrol their respective parks, Highbanks, Blacklick Woods and Blendon Woods Metro Parks. If you see them in the park, say hello and congratulations!

Rangers Wear Many Hats

In the late afternoon, early evening of Friday, September 4, 2015 a thunderstorm with high winds rolled through Sharon Woods Metro Park causing several trees to fall across the trails.  Typically, our outstanding maintenance staff would take care of such issues, but they had gone home for the evening.  Since maintenance staff were not scheduled until the afternoon the following day, a Ranger trained in the use of a chainsaw, took care of the issue in the morning.  This cleared the trail early in the day for our visitors, without having to call in maintenance on their time off, and without incurring any extra cost to the tax payer.  Just one of the many hats a Ranger may wear during the day.  It is one of the things that makes a Ranger a Ranger.  We don't just patrol the park and deal with law enforcement issues, we take CARE of the park.

Assisting Local Agency

On Friday August 21, 2015 Rangers at Sharon Woods Metro Park were contacted by officers from Westerville Police Department (WPD) regarding an incident in their jurisdiction adjacent to the park. WPD was informed a young woman, who was put on a medical hold for threatening suicide, ran from the doctors office.  Officers requested Rangers search the park for the individual.  Immediately, park maintenance staff notified Park Rangers and WPD they had seen the individual walk into the park.

A Ranger quickly located the individual on the multi-use trail and directed WPD to the location. WPD took the individual into custody and transported her off the trail.  Later, after a conversation with the individual's doctor, it was determined the individual was not on a medical hold, as initially reported, and she was immediately released.  WPD Officers offered her help to get medical assistance for her mental health issue, which she accepted.  Officers then transported her to a local area hospital for medical assistance.

An excellent example of how Rangers assist other local agencies.  Great work Rangers and WPD Officers.

A New Park To Patrol

On Friday August 14, 2015 Columbus and Franklin County opened its newest park, Rocky Fork Metro Park.  While only one section of this approximately 1000 acre park is open, it provides approximately 3 miles of trail 2 of which are available for you to walk your dog.  There is even a .3 mile trail designated as an off leash trail.  The paved multipurpose trail is bike, skateboard, leashed pet friendly, There are two shelters, one large and one small, as well as several grills and picnic tables scattered throughout the park.  Of course, a playground for the young ones.  The dog park, complete with large and small dog areas and splash pad will not be open until spring of 2016.  While it appears to be completed, fencing is not quite done and the grass needs more time to establish a strong root system in order to prevent problems in the future.

Here is an interview from the Columbus Dispatch with Park Manger D. Bissonette.   And another from 10TV with Metro Parks Director Tim Moloney.  Naturalist Andrea Krava does a nice job of giving a nice overview of the park with New Albany News

Never Off Duty

Two Metro Park Rangers on vacation out of state witnessed a one car vehicle accident as they were traveling on a county road.  They watched as a new Jeep Grand Cherokee, about 100 yards in front of them,  drive into the oncoming lane then turn sharply back into the proper lane, only to continue off the roadway and disappear into the woods.

Upon arriving on the scene they realized the car had disappeared because it had driven down a 10 foot embankment and was now at rest in a small creek.  One Ranger got on the phone to 911 while running to the next house to get an address.  The second Ranger went to check on the driver, an elderly woman who was conscious, coherent and uninjured. The Jeep was up to the bottom of the doors in water and was not going to be able to be driven out.  The Ranger kept the victim calm while waiting for the rescue crew.  Once the county Sheriff Deputy arrived on scene, the Ranger and the Deputy assisted the victim through her sunroof, down the windshield and hood, on to dry land.

The victim said that she was trying to shoo a bee out her window and went into the oncoming lane, then over corrected.  She managed to come out of the accident without a scratch.   Rangers stated they weren't sure how long she would have been there if they had not witnessed the accident.  Her vehicle was 10 feet lower than the road and obscured from view by dense vegetation, making it unlikely for her to have been seen by passing motorists. The victim was thankful the Rangers were behind her and stopped to help, giving them big hugs when she made it to dry land.

Turns out, the victim is good friends with family with whom the Rangers were visiting. It can be a small world when you are never "off duty".