Officer Daniel Valenzuela works on the beach in Huntington Beach.
He spent several months in the cadet academy from the California Department of Parks and Recreation, where applicants are prepared to serve in one of the department’s 280 units.
“My job is very unique because I am a peace officer, I am also a lifeguard,” says Valenzuela.
The Adventure Pass allows them to enter 19 California parks during the school year.
“A normal day I’m in the park, I’m on the road, enforcing the law, and I’m also saving people at sea.”
These special agents can be found on beaches, mountains, deserts, museums, recreational areas and historic parks in California.
“We learned the weapons, the defensive tactics, how to give medical assistance,” says Valenzuela.
But also the mastery of two languages is a very valuable advantage in case of emergencies, as Officer Valenzuela explains.
“One thing that happened was very dangerous and the victim only spoke Spanish, I could talk to him, and it was very important to understand what happened,” Valenzuela said.
Yosemite National Park’s Cascades are in all their splendor after record-breaking snowpack began to melt in the warmest temperatures this spring.
Search for new candidates
The California Department of Parks and Recreation extended its application period to July 31 for its new training period for those who want to become peace officers and lifeguards.
Applicants must be at least 21 years of age, have a valid California driver’s license, and have at least 60 units of college credit.
Because applicants need investigative training and because they will need to carry weapons, they may be asked to fill out a criminal history questionnaire.
If accepted into the academy, participants receive compensation of between $3,900 to $5,300 a month while they prepare.
For more information and to fill out the online application, Click here.
