Park rangers and their hats!

CLINT EUTSEY
Second Shift Manager / Patrol Supervisor

Park Rangers wear many hats. Yes, one of them is the classic green campaign hat. However, it is the other metaphorical hats they wear that makes our rangers true public servants. Their responsibilities include providing visitors with directions to park trails and amenities, answering interpretive questions, assisting visitors with vehicle problems, performing maintenance tasks, providing medical aid as first responders, and taking law enforcement action, among countless other responsibilities. The challenge for rangers is that it is impossible to predict which hat they are going to need to put on and when.

On June 7, 2024 two park rangers at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park, Amber Huffman and Tyler Kujawa, responded to a report of a park visitor that was experiencing suicidal ideations. Rangers Huffman and Kujawa arrived on scene and approached a woman sitting on the edge of the train trestle who had made threats to end her life by jumping off the bridge. The trestle is approximately 40 feet high and spans Big Darby Creek. After making contact with the individual, Ranger Huffman and Ranger Kujawa were able to convince her to come down off the bridge. They were able to connect her with advanced care, and they also helped the woman’s family through this experience by talking with them and helping them cope with the stream of emotions they were experiencing.

Before this incident Ranger Huffman was working on reports, documenting incidents that had occurred earlier in the week. Ranger Kujawa was working with a park maintenance technician to clean out a gas grill that visitors had accidently used charcoal in at the lodge. In an instant they both put on different hats to respond to a serious situation. They demonstrated excellence in their ability to switch mindsets, display empathy, build rapport and connect to someone in crisis they had never met before. Ranger Huffman and Ranger Kujawa’s actions are a prime example of rangers utilizing their training and skill sets to resolve a serious, and potentially tragic situation. The professionalism, care and courage they displayed as public servants was exemplary and is the standard that our community deserves.

After this incident Ranger Huffman and Ranger Kujawa continued with their evening. Without missing a beat, again changing hats, they began to pull trash, clean restrooms, and close the park. Going from a high-stress, serious incident, back to more routine tasks and positive interactions with other visitors is not easy. However, Ranger Huffman and Ranger Kujawa did so with professionalism and a willingness to serve all of our park visitors.

They are not the only rangers who do this. All of our rangers at Metro Parks are able to share stories about quickly switching their hats based on situations that are presented to them. They do so with the same professionalism and willingness to serve as Ranger Huffman and Ranger Kujawa. This is one of many reasons why I am proud to serve alongside our rangers. Next time you see a ranger give them a smile and a wave. That small gesture of encouragement means a lot to them because you never know what hat they just had to take off, or what hat they are going to need to put on next.