Meet the ranger in charge of our stretch of Katy Trail

Rangers combine law enforcement, education and service

Cindy Gladden, Correspondent
Posted 11/7/21

People who use the Katy Trail in Warren County often forget it is one of Missouri’s State Parks, with trailheads in Treloar, Marthasville and Dutzow. The entire trail stretches 240 miles on the …

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Meet the ranger in charge of our stretch of Katy Trail

Rangers combine law enforcement, education and service

Posted

People who use the Katy Trail in Warren County often forget it is one of Missouri’s State Parks, with trailheads in Treloar, Marthasville and Dutzow. The entire trail stretches 240 miles on the former corridor of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad across Missouri.

Security problems rarely occur on the trail but the Missouri Parks Department wants to remind visitors there are additional resources available, including the services of park rangers. While people are encouraged to call the Warren County Sheriff’s Department with an immediate need, seven regional park rangers are also on call to serve a variety of needs in area state parks.

Sgt. Angela Carson, St. Louis Area Supervisor, counts the Warren County stretch of Katy Trail as her territory. Carson covers 18 parks in addition to the Katy Trail, including Babler, Onondaga, Castlewood, Meramec, Mastodon and Duetschheim state parks and historic sites.

Carson said she became restless in her former job and at the age of 40 decided to seek another career. She enrolled in the Sheriff’s Academy where she learned about park ranger opportunities. An avid outdoorsman, Carson said she found her niche and has been on the job for more than six years.

“My office is outside,” she said. “I can’t believe they pay me to do this job. I love it.”

“Park Rangers are fully commissioned, state-certified law enforcement officers with jurisdiction on property under the control of the Director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources,” said Col. Tom Dresner, Chief Ranger.

Carson said anything that happens in cities and towns also happens in the state parks — domestic situations, drug trafficking, sex offenses and thefts, to name a few.

“Random weird things happen in the parks too,” said Carson. “We come across a lot of people sitting in their cars. They are ‘unhoused’ or homeless. We keep a very close eye on them.”

Homeless people are often drawn to the state parks because they are seen as safe places. They are fairly cheap, offer showers and bathrooms, and people can stay 15 out of 30 days in the same place.

“We have lots of resources now to help people,” she said. “We get them connected to an outreach worker provided by the Department of Mental Health.”

Carson said the rangers can also provide special stabilization units to offer help to suicidal individuals. People can be transported to a safe place by rangers if there is an acute need.

Other services park rangers offer include self-defense class for groups who often walk or ride the Katy, education programs for students and Scouts, or tram rides for seniors. The department will also provide rangers who also act as naturalists, accompanying hikers into its many parks.

Carson said she hopes people will report suspicious activity or patterns of crime to the park rangers. The rangers will increase patrols in areas where they see increased crime. Carson said one example of patterns of crime is car break-ins which are carried out by gangs that travel across the country each year.

“We really want people to enjoy our parks,” said Carson. “Part of that comes by forming relationships with our visitors. We also need them to help us out by reporting activity.”

The rangers are equipped to carry out full investigations, take fingerprints and process all evidence with help from the Missouri Highway Patrol. They are sensitive to alcohol problems occurring along the riverways in the state parks and respond to problems with rowdy campers in the state’s campgrounds.

Carson said they often walk through the parks checking for problems any time of day. They could encounter unleashed dogs, abandoned animals, sick wildlife, criminal activity or poachers. Carson said rangers complete intense firearm training two times per year.

“I’m trying to make some good ripples,” Carson said. “I’m trying to put a little goodness back into the world.”

To report any suspicious activity in the state parks, visitors can call 1-800-334-6946 or visit mostateparks.com for more information.

Katy Trail, Park Ranger

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