Montebello announces sworn-officer park patrols; commission discusses oversight options

Parks and Recreation staff told the commission on July 17 that the city’s new Parks Bureau is staffed by two full-time sworn police officers and several community services officers and cadets who began patrolling parks around Memorial Day weekend and formally moved under the new budget July 1.

"We now have a replacement to the park ranger program that's staffed by two full time sworn police officers," the staff member said, adding that officers are scheduled such that parks have sworn coverage generally in the afternoon and evening periods.

Commissioners asked how the commission might receive oversight or regular reporting from the Parks Bureau. One commissioner asked whether a standing committee or other formal oversight arrangement would be appropriate so the commission could better understand patrol schedules, activity and outcomes.

Parks staff responded that the sworn officers will enforce park laws and that schedules and rotations remain open for discussion. Staff recommended first inviting the police chief or bureau leadership to a future commission meeting for a presentation on successes and challenges before establishing any new subcommittee or formal oversight body.

Staff credited Police Chief Lopez with bringing the program together on a short timeline and encouraged commissioners and the public to engage with officers who are out in parks and with community-services staff.

No formal direction to create a new subcommittee was taken; staff said the commission could agendize a request to form a subcommittee at a future meeting if commissioners wished to pursue that route.