“If a trail is to be blazed, it is ‘send a ranger.’ If an animal is floundering in the snow, a ranger is sent to pull him out; if a bear is in the hotel, if a fire threatens a forest, if someone is to be saved, it is ‘send a ranger…” – Stephen T. Mather, first Director of the National Park Service
Besides the gear I wear as part of my uniform, my patrol truck is my greatest asset while I’m on patrol. I often spend the majority of my shift in or near my truck. My day can cary so much that I never know what I’ll exactly need for the day. I could be on a DUI traffic stop, a search and rescue, a foot patrol of a trail, a wildfire, an animal rescue, a car accident. I can truly say that no two days at work are the same for me. I need to be prepared for any situation in any weather on any terrain. My patrol truck reflects that.
Let’s start in the front seat, more specifically in the immediate vicinity of the drivers seat.
I always keep bug spray in the door, ready to be put on before heading off into the woods. I also have binoculars and a compass. I have a calibrated and certified stopwatch which is used for speed timing. There’s a highway that runs through the heart of one of my parks, traveling through several pedestrian crosswalks and wildlife crossing areas. The speed limit is only 35 mph, but vehicles of all kinds regularly fly through at almost double that limit. I take the safety of my park visitors and staff very seriously. Anyway… in my center console I keep a box of dog treats. You never know when you’ll come across a good boy or girl. Lastly in my immediate reach is my patrol shotgun.
On my passenger seat is my patrol bag. The main space has a binder of park/forest info, such as the length of camper that can fit on a specific campsite, electric info for the campground, local amenities like gas stations, restaurants, churches, etc. I have law enforcement forms: DUI forms, mental health evaluation forms, lost person forms, Victim/witness services packets, local food banks, unhoused individual resources, park-specific permits like metal detecting and ADA access. In the side pockets I keep mechanics gloves, a flashlight, glow sticks, a fluorescent orange vest for hunting season. Some odds and ends I keep in the other small pockets include extra handcuffs, pen, high lighters, anther cuff key, my water bottle.
I have a condensed state law book, a park/forest law book, warning notices, citations, parking tickets.
In the front of my bag I keep a collection of maps. Maps of sections of forest, park maps, trail maps. Each map is tailored for my use, such as highlighted trails that can accommodate ATVs for emergency use, a map of all of the gates/gate numbers, all of the leased camps, specific access points.
On the back of my front passenger seat I keep a thigh rig with an IFAK (individual first aid kit), extra shotgun rounds, and 2 extra magazines for my duty weapon. This whole thigh rig can be easily taken off of the seat and put on my person if the situation arises. I have a clip on my duty belt – the whole thing get clipped into that then it secures around my thigh. The IFAK actually canbe taken off individually, it’s secured by vellcro. Also on the seat I have a yellow traffic vest, a jacket, and ear protection.
My backseat is loaded with supplies. On the passenger side backseat I have lifevests, a throw bag, and a chest radio strap. I’m required to carry a PFD. I actually carry 2 and a throwbag. I patrol 2 lakes and have rivers/streams that run through my patrol area as well. With all the flooding and recreation that happens, you can never be too prepared for a water emergency. The chest radio carrier is something I use in several scenarios: wildland firefighting, search and rescues. I can carry my radio, my cell phone, and some snacks in it.
Under that seat I carry a small jump pack for dead batteries, a staple gun, and trash bags.
On the driver’s side back seat I have my medical supplies. I put them there so I can just get out of the drivers seat and quickly open the back door. I have a full medical kit, and AED, a box of medical gloves, an Emergency Response Guidebook, and our park’s emergency manual. There’s also a fire extinguisher in the middle of the seat.
Under that seat I carry toilet paper because you never know.
The truck bed has a cap on it and a Deckd drawer sytem. The cap doesn’t keep anything but water out, so the things I store on top of the Deckd system are things I don’t mind getting dirty. In the warmer months I keep wildland firefighting tools with me: a bladder pack full of water, a fire rake, a Pulaski, a 1 gallon jug of water. I also keep a small shovel and an animal catching pole there all year round.
Now on to the Deckd drawers. In the left drawer I have a slip leash for stray/lost animals. Unfortunately most of the dogs/cats I come across in the forest were dumped there. Thankfully, we work with a local animal shelter that takes the animals in, provides veterinary care, and then have found homes for all of them.
I also have forcible entry tools – a Halligan and a sledge hammer. Lockouts are common in the parks, so I carry a lock-out it, complete with a mini airbag, wedges, and a jimmy tool. Also in that drawer is a trash grabber, my snow brush, bolt cutters.
In the right drawer is a collection of maps to hand out to visitors, Wasp spray, a tool box, caution tape, another throw bag, spray paint to mark things for vehicle accidents, hazards, etc. I also have road flares and reflective traffic triangles.
What I carry in my truck changes slightly as we move into hunting seasons, cold weather, ice fishing, and snowmobile patrol. I’ll cover those changes in another post.
As always, if you have questions about what I carry, or have any suggestions, PLEASE reach out via email or any of my social media accounts. I love hearing other ideas and suggestions on what other folks have and how to improve my own setup.