Are the Austin Downtown Rangers really police officers?
The Downtown Austin Alliance funds the Austin Downtown Rangers through a grant to the Austin Police Department. The Rangers, one of the DAA’s best known and most respected programs, are officially employees of the Austin Police Department. As such, they receive their employee benefits through the City of Austin. However, they are not police officers and have no powers to arrest people. They receive training from both the Austin Police Department and the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau. They are in constant radio contact with the Austin Police Department and are able to report a crime immediately. They have even been able to stop crime in progress. Over the years, the Rangers’ duties have grown to include certain ticketing powers for issues such as parking in handicapped zones. The Downtown Rangers are now doing even more for the community by reaching out to the homeless population. Many Rangers are receiving special training through a local mental health facility to provide outre
