PARADISE– On April 29, 2022, 35 California State Parks cadets graduated from the academy and will begin their careers serving as rangers and peace officer lifeguards in the nation’s largest state park system. As peace officers, they will serve, protect and educate visitors at California’s 279 state parks, while protecting the state’s most significant natural and cultural resources.

This year’s class of 35 cadets were chosen from a field of 880 applicants.  BVST 47 began their academy on Oct. 1, 2021. For seven months, the cadets received training in strategic communication, making physical arrests, conducting investigations, performing search and rescue activities, defensive tactics, de-escalation, and firearms use. Cadets were also trained in visitor assistance, public education and interpretation, park resource protection and management, and first aid. Academy instruction prepares the students mentally, morally, emotionally and physically to enter and successfully complete the Field Training Officer Program, which is comprised of 13 more weeks of on-the-job training.

“Congratulations to our newest State Parks Rangers for completing the academy and beginning field training,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) Alan Barcelona.  “CSLEA is here to support its ranger, peace officer lifeguard members as they protect visitors to our state’s beautiful park system.”