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Committee recommends resolution urging Legislature to expand assault/battery penalties to include park rangers
Summary
The committee voted to forward a favorable recommendation for a resolution asking the Florida Legislature to add park rangers to enhanced assault and battery penalties under Florida Statute 784.07; staff said the change would reclassify certain offenses to a higher level and give managers flexibility to add public‑safety requirements.
The city attorney’s office asked the committee to recommend a resolution urging the Florida Legislature to include park rangers within Florida Statute 784.07, which enhances penalties for assault and battery against specified public‑service personnel. Mark Fishman of the city attorney’s office told the committee that parks staff had requested the change to provide additional protection to park rangers who work in public spaces.
Why it matters: staff said park rangers have been victims of assault, threats and other misconduct while performing their duties. Including park rangers in the statute would reclassify certain offenses committed against them to a higher grade — for example, an assault currently treated as a second‑degree misdemeanor could be enhanced to a first‑degree misdemeanor and certain batteries could rise from first‑degree misdemeanors to third‑degree felonies — increasing the potential maximum penalties when prosecuted.
Committee action: committee members expressed support and a motion was made for a favorable recommendation so that the city attorney’s office and parks and recreation could prepare a resolution urging the Legislature to amend Florida Statute 784.07. The item will be sent to the full commission for consideration.
Ending: members said the measure follows the model of existing statutes that protect enforcement and public‑safety personnel and asked staff to proceed with a draft resolution for the commission.
