Native American Walking Off Trail - National Park Service

Written by Mindy Block, Quality Parks President & Founder

Yesterday, I followed the story in which a Native American was tasered by a National Park Ranger in Petroglyph National Monument, Albuquerque, New Mexico.  As I read more of the details, and watched the videos, I realized it could've been me.

How many times have I walked off trail? Too many to count. How many times have I given an authority figure some attitude? More than I'd like to admit.  And for those in authority who handled these situations with more maturity I did, thank you.  And yet, there are times when I don't want to announce who I am, because it's very personal as to why I'm in the woods on this day, or at the beach, and I just want time to be by myself.  ​​

Not all National Park Rangers are the same. Here's a few, driving along the beach along the Fire Island National Seashore.

​Can you tell them apart, when they step out of the vehicle? 

Photo: FINS Facebook page

When you see the badge below, you're meeting, "Ranger Rick."

When you see the badge below, you need to be on your best behavior and comply.

This is a National Parks Service Interpretive Park Ranger, who  may say, "Did you know that it takes hundreds of years for a desert to grow back, and that your trampling does so much harm. Try not to walk off the trail. And I understand, it was a covid thing. Be safe, and do try to stay on the trails, as the signs indicate. Have a nice day."You may not understand that when you see the badge below, you comply.

This is a National Park Service Law Enforcement Park Ranger who can give you ticket, a steep fine, and worse being "detained." Which means using a Taser.  So when the Park Ranger asks you for your name, address, license, do comply. And when the Ranger informs you that you need to go back on the trail, say, "Yes, sir, sorry, sir."  Then hope he only replies with, "Have a nice day."

According to the April, 2009 article in the National Parks Traveler, National Park Rangers Find Tasers Efficient Tools in Potentially Combative Situations,  tasers were first used in 2001 then used by 115 parks and 1,100 trained officers by 2009. The Park Service's use of tasers seemed to be focused on use "to prevent someone from taking his/her own life or the life of another or when deadly force by an officer would otherwise be justified."

One final note, my hero is Verbal Judo Master ​George J. Thompson who explains how to achieve voluntary compliance in a difficult situations. ​