Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 1545
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 1545.13 (2026)

Park commission employees designated as law enforcement officers

✓ current as of May 2026
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Effective:
January 1, 2004
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 490 - 124th General Assembly
PDF:
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(A) As used in this section, "felony" has the same meaning as in section 109.511 of the Revised Code.

(B) The employees that the board of park commissioners designates for that purpose may exercise all the powers of police officers within and adjacent to the lands under the jurisdiction and control of the board or when acting as authorized by section 1545.131 or 1545.132 of the Revised Code. Before exercising the powers of police officers, the designated employees shall comply with the certification requirement established in section 109.77 of the Revised Code, take an oath, and give a bond to the state in the sum that the board prescribes, for the proper performance of their duties in that respect. This division is subject to division (C) of this section.

(C)(1) The board of park commissioners shall not designate an employee as provided in division (B) of this section on a permanent basis, on a temporary basis, for a probationary term, or on other than a permanent basis if the employee previously has been convicted of or has pleaded guilty to a felony.

(2)(a) The board of park commissioners shall terminate the employment of an employee designated as provided in division (B) of this section if the employee does either of the following:

(i) Pleads guilty to a felony;

(ii) Pleads guilty to a misdemeanor pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement as provided in division (D) of section 2929.43 of the Revised Code in which the employee agrees to surrender the certificate awarded to the employee under section 109.77 of the Revised Code.

(b) The board shall suspend from employment an employee designated as provided in division (B) of this section if the employee is convicted, after trial, of a felony. If the employee files an appeal from that conviction and the conviction is upheld by the highest court to which the appeal is taken or if the employee does not file a timely appeal, the board shall terminate the employment of that employee. If the employee files an appeal that results in the employee's acquittal of the felony or conviction of a misdemeanor, or in the dismissal of the felony charge against the employee, the board shall reinstate that employee. An employee who is reinstated under division (C)(2)(b) of this section shall not receive any back pay unless that employee's conviction of the felony was reversed on appeal, or the felony charge was dismissed, because the court found insufficient evidence to convict the employee of the felony.

(3) Division (C) of this section does not apply regarding an offense that was committed prior to January 1, 1995.

(4) The suspension from employment, or the termination of the employment, of an employee under division (C)(2) of this section shall be in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1984–2025 · leading case: Marrek v. Cleveland Metroparks Bd. of Commissioners, 459 N.E.2d 873 (Ohio 1984).
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Marrek v. Cleveland Metroparks Bd. of Commissioners, 459 N.E.2d 873 (Ohio 1984). “11; the power to employ park police officers, R.C. 1545.13; and the power to levy taxes, R.”
Wilkins v. Harrisburg, 2015-Ohio-5472, 56 N.E.3d 320. “Park, the court determined the authority of the park ranger to issue violations pursuant to R.C. 1545.13, which grants designated employees of a park commission, "all the powers of police officers within and adjacent to the lands under the jurisdiction and control of such board.”
Cleveland Metro. Park Dist. v. Sandler, 595 N.E.2d 950 (Ohio Ct. App. 1991). · cites it 2× “The authority of the park ranger is granted pursuant to R.C. 1545.13, which states that designated employees of a park commission “may exercise all the powers of police officers within and adjacent to the lands under the jurisdiction and control of such board.”
State v. Nunnally, 615 N.E.2d 725 (Ohio Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 5× “As an employee of the board of park commissioners, a park ranger may exercise all the powers of police officers pursuant to R.C. 1545.13, which provides: “Such employees as the board of park commissioners designates for that purpose may exercise all the powers of police officers…”
State v. Letts, 2025-Ohio-1085. · cites it 2× “The State maintains that this issue was not subject to resolution through a motion to dismiss the charges. {¶ 15} Alternatively, the State contends Adkins possessed jurisdiction to stop Letts for the one-way violation on Negley Place.”
State v. Thomas, 2024-Ohio-1361, 241 N.E.3d 368. “31(D) grants housing authority police officers full police powers “in the housing projects”; and R.C. 1545.13(B) and 511.232(B) each grant park rangers of various types police powers “within and adjacent to the lands under the jurisdiction and control” of the board of park…”
Weisbarth v. Geauga Park Dist. (6th Cir. 2007). “Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 1545.13 (B). During her tenure as a park ranger, Weisbarth led an initiative to institute a canine-handling team and subsequently became the department’s official canine handler.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 1545.13(B): 2 cases
State v. Letts, 2025-Ohio-1085. “The State maintains that this issue was not subject to resolution through a motion to dismiss the charges. {¶ 15} Alternatively, the State contends Adkins possessed jurisdiction to stop Letts for the one-way violation on Negley Place.”
State v. Thomas, 2024-Ohio-1361, 241 N.E.3d 368. “31(D) grants housing authority police officers full police powers “in the housing projects”; and R.C. 1545.13(B) and 511.232(B) each grant park rangers of various types police powers “within and adjacent to the lands under the jurisdiction and control” of the board of park…”
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