Conclusion Park district law enforcement has been around since the beginning of park districts. Today there are more park district law enforcement units in Illinois than ever before. Each agency requires high qualifications and provides the very best in training for officers in their department. Although Illinois park police have more or less remained out of the limelight, their job is only slightly different than the local counterpart. The Park Police Debate Recently in Illinois and across the country there has been discussion concerning the need for separate park law enforcement agencies.
Critics claim they are a duplication of services with existing law enforcement agencies.
Advocates claim park law enforcement is a specialized type of law enforcement which, when employed correctly, can greatly enhance the park experience. In this article we examine why, in most cases, park police can make a difference for many park districts. The need and desire to form or maintain a park district police agency always rests with the board of trustees of the park district. The Illinois legislature has given park districts the authority to organize and maintain park district police departments as well as a funding source through a separate park police tax. However, for most small districts a separate park police agency is usually not the most cost-effective means of providing safety and security for park users.