Editor’s Note: In this Chapter the word “Sheriff”
is changed to “Chief of Police” and the words “Sheriff’s
Department” are changed to “Police Department” pursuant
to the St. Charles County Charter Article IV, Sections 4.250 and 4.1300,
as amended in 2012 and effective 1-1-2015, and St. Charles County
Ord. No. 15-012, Section 2, adopted 1-26-2015.
[Ord. No. 97-126 §1, 8-27-1997]
Pursuant to Section 2.507 of the St. Charles County Charter
and the recommendation of the County Executive, the County Department
of Parks and Recreation is hereby created. The Department shall be
responsible for the development, operation and maintenance of a system
of County parks and open spaces and to operate recreational programs
compatible with this system of parks.
[Ord. No. 97-126 §2, 8-27-1997]
The Department shall be headed by a Director who shall be exempted
from the Merit System pursuant to the St. Charles County Charter,
Section 7.300 (1992).
[Ord. No. 97-126 §§3—4, 8-27-1997]
A.
Pursuant
to Section 3.601.1 and Section 4.1503 of the St. Charles County Charter,
the County Executive shall appoint the Director of Parks and Recreation,
subject to approval by the County Council. The Director shall serve
until his successor is duly qualified and appointed.
B.
In
the case of a vacancy in the office of Director, the vacancy shall
be filled in the same manner as an appointment is made. However, the
County Executive, pursuant to the St. Charles County Charter, Section
3.603 (1992) may appoint an acting director who shall serve for a
period until a new Director is appointed.
[Ord. No. 97-126 §5, 8-27-1997]
The Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation shall
be responsible for the Department and shall have such duties and powers
as directed by the County Executive.
[Ord. No. 01-133 §§1-7, 10-31-2001; Ord. No. 08-069 §1, 6-6-2008]
A.
The
persons employed in the St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Department
under the Park Ranger classification may be commissioned by the Chief
of Police as certified and licensed Peace Officers pursuant to State
law if nominated to the Chief of Police by the Director of Parks and
Recreation. Any Park Ranger, so certified by the Chief of Police,
shall be responsible to the Chief of Police for POST training, certification
and licensure requirements, weapon qualification and training and
investigation of all use of force.
B.
The
Director of Parks and Recreation shall nominate to the Chief of Police
as Park Ranger only those men and women who have received a successful
background check through the St. Charles County Police Department
and who have completed First Class law enforcement academy instruction
of six hundred (600) hours or more, including any required areas of
instruction required by Section 590.040.3 of the Revised Statutes
of Missouri. The Director of Parks and Recreation, as appointing authority
for the Park Rangers, may involve the Chief of Police in additional
areas of the pre-employment hiring process as the Director determines
appropriate.
C.
Park
Rangers shall engage in general law enforcement duties when inside
the boundaries of St. Charles County parks. Except as authorized by
the Chief of Police or the Chief of Police's designee, Park Rangers
shall not engage in general law enforcement duties when they are outside
of the boundaries of St. Charles County parks. In no event shall Park
Rangers participate in any vehicular pursuits outside park boundaries.
D.
Commissioned
and licensed Peace Officer in the employ of the County and working
as Park Rangers in the St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Department
shall only carry such weapons on duty as the Chief of Police shall
authorize and for which such Peace Officer is trained and qualified
through the Police Department to carry. Such Peace Officer shall remain
current in his/her firearm qualification as required by the Police
Department.
E.
As
required by Chapter 590 of the Revised Statutes of the State of Missouri,
the Park Rangers shall be responsible to the Chief of Police for their
attendance at the following training and for producing the following
reports:
1.
Racial Profile Reports for all traffic stops within the St. Charles
County Parks as set out in the Police Department policy adopted pursuant
to the requirements of Section 590.650 of the Revised Statutes of
Missouri.
2.
Annual training on racial profiling as required by Section 590.050
of the Revised Statutes of Missouri.
3.
Annual POST certification and licensure training as required by POST
rules established pursuant to the authority of the Director of Public
Safety in Section 590.030, RSMo.
F.
Each
Park Ranger commissioned as a Peace Officer by the Chief of Police
shall, prior to entering upon the discharge of his duties, take and
subscribe an oath of office to perform his duties as a Peace Officer
faithfully and impartially.
G.
The
Chief of Police shall report the name of any Park Ranger who fails
to meet the criteria for certification and licensure to the Director
of the Department of Public Safety as required by Section 590.070,
RSMo.
