Redding Police “Park Rangers” Sweep Unhoused Residents From Mostly Private Land Off Progress Drive
Redding Police Chief Brian Barner says he’s focused on addressing “quality of life” issues for Redding’s housed residents. His “Park Rangers” are among those who help displace unhoused campers from both public and private land.
Editor’s Note: We use the title “Park Ranger” in quotes throughout this piece. While the title is typically used to describe a position that is limited to service in public parks, in Redding the designation describes members of RPD’s sworn police officer force who are rotated through a higher paying “Park Ranger” role where they focus on “crime prevention” and park patrol, protection and maintenance, among other duties.
On November 1, 2023, Redding Police Department “Park Rangers” were on site to assist in the removal of residents from a long-established encampment located on mostly private land off Breslauer Way, not far from Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency buildings.
At midday, officers stood next to two Redding Police Department (RPD) trucks marked “Park Ranger”, as what appeared to be contracted help used a backhoe and bulldozer to clear tents and other campsite items within yards of camp residents attempting to move their belongings.
According to a response to a public records request from Shasta Scout, RPD does not currently have any written policies that address the safe use of heavy machinery around camp residents or other members of the public.
Shasta Scout reporters filmed at the site only briefly before being confronted by RPD Officer Jason Rhoads who told reporters they were trespassing on private property and must leave. Rhoads followed reporters down a dirt path to ensure they left the area, which according to newly-appointed Police Chief Brian Barner, actually includes a mix of city-owned public space and several privately-owned parcels.
Barner said RPD “Park Rangers” were on site because their role allows them to be available to assist and respond to any events needed by the department. Police officers designated as “Park Rangers” often work with Community Work Program Officers (CWPO) on camp cleanups, Barner said.
“I am very proud of the hard work being done by our Park Rangers, CIRT, and CWPO to keep our community cleaned up,” Barner emphasized, writing by email that their work also includes offering resources to those on site.
Despite this hard work, Chief Barner told Shasta Scout that only two of the approximately 70 people on site prior to the city cleanup received help. One was taken to the city-contracted nonprofit program No Boundaries, a transitional housing program, and another to what he described as “Social Services.”
As previously reported by Scout, local emergency shelter options including the Good News Rescue Mission and No Boundaries often have barriers to access that prevent unhoused residents from using their services.
The Redding Police Department only recently found funding for RPD’s new “Park Ranger” designation. According to an RPD job description, officers serving as Park Rangers will focus on crime prevention, park patrol and protection, and maintenance, among other duties.
They’re essentially “regular officers who rotate on special assignment . . . (and who) wear casual uniforms with a more approachable look,” according to former police chief Bill Schueller’s comments to the Redding Community Services Advisory Commission last year.
In May, the City Council used American Rescue Plan Act funds to establish RPD’s four Park Ranger positions through 2026. The listed annual salary range for the new position is approximately $92,000 – $103,000, which starts at significantly more than the annual salary range for RPD’s “Police Officer” Position, listed as approximately $80,000 – $118,000.
On November 1, some of the residents at the Breslauer camp told Shasta Scout they received red tag notices two days prior to the clean-up but were unsure whether the police would actually return to move them from the site. Some said they had only recently moved to the camp from where they used to live in an area known Mercy Canyon which it was cleared by police in June. They were not sure where they would move next.
Staff members from local nonprofits that serve the unhoused estimate that approximately seventy people were living at this site until recently. Shasta Scout was unable to estimate how many were still on site on November 1 when the city began to clear the property.
Barner said RPD will “continue to address the quality of life issues in the City – which includes illegal camping and trespassing on private property.” He did not respond to Shasta Scout’s question about how police enforcement at camps improves the quality of life for those living there but emphasized that his staff will “continue to provide outreach through our CIRT and always strive for voluntary compliance.”
Where short-term shelter options aren’t a fit for residents, Shasta Scout’s prior reporting on housing indicates that “compliance” likely means community members finding a way to move to another campsite on either public or private land.
Have questions, concerns, or comments you’d like to share with us directly? Reach out: editor@shastascout.org. If you choose to leave a comment please keep in mind our community guidelines. All comments will be moderated to ensure a healthy civic dialogue.
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The police officers don’t care about protecting the quality of life, they bull dozed over 7 puppies that were inside of a camp site because the owner of that particular site wasn’t present when they showed up to clear it out. They just come in and destroy everything these homeless people have with out a second thought. It’s disgusting. And because of them not caring 7 innocent little puppies got murdered. How is that for protecting the quality of life…
Destruction of campsites seems to be the only response for city or county officials. Meanwhile, the city plans to use a $9.2 million grant to build a place for fire refugees in Panorama Park off Lake Blvd. It will have all the required capabilities for use as a homeless shelter but not to be used for that purpose.
The problem with overnight shelters is that the occupants must leave during the day and compete again for shelter space the next night. This impacts the security of their belongings, exposure to inclement weather, lack of transportation, keeping of pets, and recovery from illnesses and disabling conditions.
The people who own cars have an advantage in that they can play parking lot bingo and staying on the move, provide some consistent shelter for themselves instead of sleeping in a tent or out in the open. Those with virtually zero income and severe problems are simply left to eventually die. In the richest country on earth!
Calling out Redding’s Rangers because they are also law enforcement is kind of silly. It’s important to note that the dual role of park rangers as law enforcement officers isn’t unique to Redding; many park rangers nationwide have similar responsibilities. However, the concern in Redding seems to be the cycling of police officers through the ‘Park Ranger’ role, possibly without adequate training in park-specific knowledge and management. If criticism is warranted, it should focus on ensuring these officers are well-equipped with the necessary environmental and park expertise, in addition to their law enforcement skills. This approach would better serve both the parks and the community, providing a well-rounded and informed resource for citizens.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I think the critique this article offers is that Redding’s LE Park Rangers are actually doing much the same work as other law enforcement so its uncertain why a new designation was created.
This is because they are the peace officers for the Parks and green space, and this would be within their domain. CHP, State Park Rangers and Redding’s police and park rangers will naturally look the same depending on what laws are being enforced. Calling upon each other for help with resources is completely normal. There are some valid concerns here, but calling out rangers for doing a job within their authority is not one.
Good report but a couple of things caught my attention
First, is there the expectation that a specific written policy should/must be in place when heavy equipment is used around a homeless camp?
Second, I find the timeline interesting to the comment, “Some said they had only recently moved to the camp from a camp at Mercy Canyon when it was cleared by police in June”. That was 4 months ago…would be interesting to know where that time since 120 days to me isn’t “recent”.
Good reporting as usual – appreciate the news.
Hi Paul,
Thank you very much and good questions. A written policy is often the bare minimum in showing an effort at a thoughtful, consistent, and legal approach. We would hope that where dangerous machinery is involved and the potential for harm or even death exists there would be care put into ensuring the safety of the public.
I hear you about the timeline. We have heard of instances where people have lived in well-organized camps for years, so four months is a relatively short amount of time to have to relocate all belongings and reorient to where you are located to resources needed for survival, especially as we enter the cold months where the risk of hypothermia is very real.
Hope this provides some useful context.
-Michelle