Police lieutenant reports park rangers understrength as unit handles fires, encampment cleanups and enforcement

Lieutenant Carlos Diaz, area 1 commander with the Costa Mesa Police Department, told the Parks and Community Services Commission that the city’s park ranger unit is budgeted for seven positions but currently staffs five and that the unit handled about 1,000 calls for service and issued about 243 citations over the past six months.

“Park rangers have responded to about a thousand calls for service, and they’ve issued about 243 citations to date,” Diaz said, summarizing enforcement activity that included citations for entering closed park areas, open containers and dog leash violations. He said rangers also generated about 90 reports and about 136 arrests associated with park incidents during the six‑month period.

Diaz described the unit’s recent work on a multi‑agency cleanup and boundary clarification at the Randall Preserve after complaints from residents on Parkview Circle. Newport Beach, the County of Orange, Orange County Park Rangers and other partners participated in the cleanup; Diaz said continued outreach and targeted cleanups at Talbot Park followed to prevent displacement effects that would push encampments into neighboring city parks.

He said park rangers have concentrated enforcement at Lions Park, Fairview Park and Talbot Park, and have used e‑bikes, pickups and newly certified FAA drone pilots for targeted operations. Diaz said two rangers have obtained FAA drone licenses and the department has used drones for specific missions such as locating e‑bikes and documenting unauthorized trail use at Fairview Park; he said drone operations are mission‑based and accompanied by observers to reduce wildlife or airspace conflicts.

Diaz also reported recurring small fires near parkland and said rangers performed fire watch during windy weather and reported multiple fires for fire department response. He said the department is exploring lower‑impact side‑by‑side utility vehicles to patrol sensitive trails, and is planning a move toward a real‑time operations capability that would consolidate cameras, license‑plate readers and other feeds for live situational awareness.

Commissioners asked for the ranger unit’s data to be provided regularly and requested additional ride‑along and walk‑through opportunities. Diaz said the hiring process for replacements was underway and estimated training for new hires would take roughly two months after employment offers and background clearances.