The East Bay Regional Park District announced Wednesday that its Police Department has reached full staffing at the sworn officer rank for the first time in more than 18 years, a milestone leaders say will strengthen park safety, community engagement, and overall service across the system.
All 76 sworn positions are now filled at a time when agencies across the Bay Area, state and nation are struggling with persistent vacancies.
Full staffing will translate to more proactive patrols, faster response times, and a stronger presence in parks and on trails, according to Police Chief Roberto Filice.
The EBRPD credited an intensified focus on recruitment and retention for drawing new officers, not to mention the appeal of serving an agency that protects both people and natural spaces.
Since 2022, the agency expanded outreach to police academies, partnered with training agencies, participated in job fairs and in community events such as National Night Out, and highlighted officer achievements through public recognition and media.
General Manager Sabrina Landreth called the achievement “a remarkable milestone.”
The Park District Police Department provides emergency response, criminal investigations, aerial support, and mutual aid across 73 regional parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and more than 1,330 miles of trails. In addition to patrolling Park District lands, officers provide contracted policing for East Bay Municipal Utility District recreation areas, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission watershed lands in the East Bay, and several state-owned parks.