Welcome to PLEA online!

Does Your Department have an Officer of the Year?

If your department has awards like Officer of the Year, PLEA would love to hear about it! Just email us your photos and stories, and we would love to help you honor your award winners. We feel it is important to encourage and offer recognition to all the men and women serving in our park law enforcement community.

Minneapolis Park Police Recognized for Exceptional Service

The Minneapolis Park Police Department received nine awards at the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) 2007 Awards Banquet on Feb. 12. Mayor R. T. Rybak and MPD Chief Tim Dolan will recognize the Park Police for their exceptional service to the Department and the community. Link to Website Article
Link to Full PDF Article

DEP Officer of the Year- Scott Peters

Everyone, Please join in congratulating Officer Scott Peters as the Division's 2007 Officer of the Year. Scott has consistently demonstrated, modeled and reinforced the agency's fundamental values of fairness, cooperation, respect, commitment, excellence, honesty, and teamwork. Patrolling one of the busiest State Parks in Florida, the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, he developed an incredible rapport with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies as well as with other agency programs. More...

PLEA Announces 2008 Convention!

PLEA will have the 29th Annual Conference in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 5-9, 2008. This will be held at the beautiful Hilton Garden Inn in Downtown Cleveland. Co-hosted by Cleveland Metroparks and Lake Metroparks. We now have the registration form, and we will have the agenda posted soon!

Click here for 2008 Registration Form
Click here for 2008 Conference Vendor Registration Form
Click here for Full Agenda, Information and Links to Hotel UPDATED-01/15/08
Click here for Past Conference Sites

PLEA Welcomes New Board Members

We would like to welcome Rob White, Sgt. Reginald McCrary and Captain Raymond Castro Jr. to the PLEA Board of Directors Their experience and insight make them a valuable addition to our organization. New Board Members Bios

New President's Message

Click here to Read the Latest President's Message for PLEA! Updated 04/01/08

PLEA Annual Member of the Year and Scholarship Award

We are accepting nominations for our annual member of the year award, and the Newell Rand scholarship award, both will be presented at the annual meeting in June. Email your nominations here!

It's Time for 2007 PLEA Membership Renewals!

Now for 2007, All PLEA members can receive email forwarding to their email from a parkranger.com address! You can have the address- Yourname@parkranger.com forward to your existing email address- new for 07! Just note the email address you would like on the renewal form and we will forward it to the email you list. Also, with our new Agency pricing structure you can add all or or just some of your staff as PLEA Members Agencies! Click here for the renewal form or you can renew online. If you renew online make sure you note the email you would like your parkranger.com address to forward to in the special instructions section. We appreciate your support the last 28 years and look forward to what we can accomplish as an organization in the future! We can't do it without you- the members, so renew your membership or join PLEA today! Joining or Renewing your membership uses the same form or online process, New Members wanted!

New -Featured Agency- Minneapolis Park Police

PLEA is proud to feature the Minneapolis Park Police. Click here to read about them!
Let us know if you want us to feature your department- info@parkranger.com.

New PLEA Officers for 2007

Captain Carl R. Nielsen, District Commander for the Florida Park Police has been named the new PLEA Executive Director. This is a new position in the PLEA organization and Carl is now essentially in charge of overseeing the website, membership, education and training with the assistance of the PLEA Committees and board members.

PLEA Board member Mike Burko is assuming the duties of Newsletter Editor from Stuart Foland, who remains a PLEA Board member and Past President of PLEA. Dale Steele is the new Treasurer of PLEA, and we also want to welcome our newest Board Member Gary Dodson. Gary said, "I am very excited in accepting a position on the PLEA Board of Directors. I believe I will bring a fresh and positive perspective to this fine association. I am hoping my 30 years of Law Enforcement experience will be a benefit to the organization and I look forward to learning a new and different approach as it applies to Park Law Enforcement. See you all in Chicago!"

Thanks to all for stepping up to help out with PLEA!

PLEA Scholarship Information

Click here to read about the PLEA Newell Rand Scholarship award program

Improving Law Enforcement and Visitor Protection Services since 1984

P.L.E.A., The Park Law Enforcement Association was established in 1984 as an affiliate of NRPA, to improve law enforcement and visitor protection services in park and recreation areas through professional development, thus better assuring quality of life at leisure opportunities in local, state and national park and recreation areas.

P.L.E.A. provides informational services directed toward informing park and recreation professionals, policy makers and lay people of the role and importance of law enforcement services in providing a quality of life at park and recreation opportunities.
P.L.E.A. represents all types of park law enforcement personnel, both certified and non-certified.
P.L.E.A. believes in the importance of human services and protection of natural and cultural resources that parks and recreation areas provide for people.
P.L.E.A. provides a network to facilitate the exchange of information between park law enforcement personnel and other park and recreation professionals. Your voice will be more effective because of your association with other professionals, lay people and policy makers.
P.L.E.A. offers continuing education and technical assistance services which contribute to professional growth and recognition of persons working in park law enforcement.
P.L.E.A. desires to lessen the burden of government by constructive, scientific research to ensure the most effective service delivery.

What is NRPA?

The National Recreation and Park Association, which traces its beginnings back to 1898, is the nation's leading advocate for quality of life at park and recreation opportunities for all Americans. NRPA / PLEA provides public visibility, continuing education and training, technical assistance, research, accreditation, and programming and marketing ideas to members of the park and recreation profession.

Services to Facilitate Networking and Communication

This website is one way we can attempt to achieve these commitments. This is just a sampling of what we offer for the park law enforcement community on this website.

A Big thanks goes out to all of our PLEA sponsors, thanks for helping to further the message of PLEA!