President Chief Josh Campbell Missouri State Parks
3rd Vice President
Marika Misangyi
Ranger Superintendent City of New Braunfels, Texas Marika is the Park Ranger Superintendent for the City of New Braunfels, Texas. She also serves as an accountant for a nonprofit organization and was a successful business owner for 14 years. Her passion for mentoring, the outdoors, and delivering excellent customer service has shaped her career and inspired her commitment to serving a greater purpose within the parks and recreation system.
Treasurer Lt. Adrian Sargent Five Rivers Metro Parks, Ohio Lieutenant Adrian Sargent brings 28 years of service with Five Rivers MetroParks in Dayton, Ohio, where he has held a range of positions. He has served as an International Police Mountain Bike Association Police Cyclist (PC) for over 26 years and as a Police Cyclist Instructor (PCI) for 23 years. His past assignments include Patrol Sergeant, Detective Supervisor, and Administrative Lieutenant. His current position is the Operations Lieutenant, he oversees road patrol, the property room, training, internal affairs, and special-event planning. He also belongs to several law enforcement organizations, including the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Memorial Association and the Montgomery County Chiefs Association. Lt. Sargent holds a Criminal Justice degree from the University of Dayton. He also completed the Police Executive Leadership College (PELC Class 60) and Certified Law Enforcement Executive (CLEE Class XXVI). |
Vice President Chief Ed Thomas Arkansas State Parks Ed’s leadership career spans nearly four decades, beginning in fire service and law enforcement before serving as an international police officer in Iraq, where he rose to Bureau Commander while training and mentoring Iraqi police. Returning to Arkansas, he continued his career with local agencies and Arkansas State Parks, advancing through multiple roles to become Section Chief of Arkansas State Parks Law Enforcement, a position he has held for seven years. His leadership is defined by mission focus, sound judgment, team development, and a commitment to safer, stronger communities. 4th Vice President
Co-Treasurer Chief Mark Caughlan Past President Wyoming State Parks mark.caughlan@wyo.gov Mark Caughlan has over 31 years of experience in the natural resources profession and currently serves as Wyoming State Parks Chief Ranger. He oversees the park ranger program for the state of Wyoming. His duties include chief law enforcement officer, park ranger program manager, community engagement, external agency coordinations, agency leadership team and many other duties with Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources. Mark also has 27 years of experience as a District Manager in Colorado. He is experienced in all aspects of ranger and patrol duties, park operations, fleet services, park construction, and maintenance and ranger training programs. Mark is currently the North Amerca Representative for the International Ranger Federation and serves on the Executive Board of Directors for the Park Law Enforcement Association as a past president. |
2nd Vice President Chief George Fedorczyk New Jersey State Park Police
Chief Fedorczyk has dedicated more than three decades to public service, law enforcement, and military service. He has served with the New Jersey State Park Police for 18 years and currently serves as the agency’s Chief of Police. He also served 23 years with the New Jersey Army National Guard, retiring at the rank of Major. His distinguished military career included deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2011. Among his military awards and decorations are the Bronze Star Medal and the Legion of Merit. A graduate of Rutgers University, Chief Fedorczyk remains actively engaged in both the law enforcement and veteran communities. His professional and service affiliations include the Park Law Enforcement Association (PLEA), International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP), Ocean County Police Chiefs Association (OCPCA), American Legion Post 232, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5343 and Rotary International.
Secretary Meaghan McDonald Former Ranger Assistant Superintendent City of New Braunfels, Texas
Meaghan McDonald is the former Assistant Park Ranger Superintendent with a degree in Wildlife Biology and a strong commitment to conservation and public safety. Her work reflects a passion for protecting natural resources while strengthening professional development within the parks and recreation community.
Executive Director Capt. Dale Steele Past President Great Parks of Hamilton County, Ohio Dale Steele began his park career in the National Park Service in May 1984 and after two years with the NPS then returned to his home state of Ohio where he has spent the last 40 years working for five different County Park Districts. His park law enforcement career began in the fall of 1987 and has included time as a Service Ranger, Patrol Ranger, Coordinator, Sergeant, Lieutenant and for the past eight years as Captain for the Great Parks of Hamilton County. Dale began attending PLEA Conferences in 1993 and became the Ohio State Affiliate Representative on the Board in 2005. He joined the Executive Board in 2007 as the Treasurer and have since spent time as the Secretary, Vice-President, President and the Executive Director. |
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Directors
Chief Bill Westerfield Past President Wyoming State Parks (Retired)
Shayn Koppes Regional Supervisor Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks Shayn Koppes has more than 15 years of experience with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. He began his career as an AmeriCorps member at Tuttle Creek State Park before progressing through roles as a Park Ranger, Assistant Park Manager, and Park Manager at Cheney and Sand Hills State Parks. He currently serves as a Regional Supervisor for the Parks Division. Shayn recieved a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University in Park Management and Conservation, with a secondary major in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. As Regional Supervisor, he oversees park operations, law enforcement, capital improvement projects, maintenance operations, and administration for Region 3. He also has division-wide responsibilities involving law enforcement hiring and background processes, Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center enrollment, officer uniforms and body armor, and the acquisition and outfitting of law enforcement vehicles. Shayn is passionate about park law enforcement and supporting the Park Law Enforcement Association, with a focus on strengthening relationships, sharing knowledge, and supporting the officers who serve and protect our state parks.
David Dobbins Ranger Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources (Retired) David E. Dobbins retired as a Natural Resources Officer after 28 years of service with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources; Division of Ohio State Parks and Watercraft. Dobbins believes in paying it forward to the next generation of Law Enforcement by being a part of PLEA and as a Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy Commander.  Brad DePriest Assistant Park Superintendent Arkansas State Parks Brad DePriest has devoted more than 30 years to Arkansas State Parks, serving as a Park Interpreter, Park Ranger, and Assistant Park Superintendent at DeGray Lake Resort State Park. He brings extensive law enforcement experience, including service as a firearms instructor, standardized field sobriety instructor, professional police instructor, and long‑time field training officer. In addition to his public service, Brad operates a pressure washing and parking lot striping business. He is committed to professionalism, training, and the advancement of park law enforcement. |
Chief George Poulos Past Vice President Miami–Dade Parks, Florida (Retired) With over 40 years of law enforcement experience, I have served in leadership and command positions with the City of Miami Police Department, Sweetwater Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol, and Miami-Dade County Parks, retiring as Chief Park Ranger after 26 years of dedicated service. I am a Crime Prevention Practitioner appointed by the Florida Attorney General, a certified police instructor, and an Adjunct Instructor at Miami Dade College, and I remain active with the Park Law Enforcement Association, serving on its Board of Directors and previously as Vice President of the Executive Board.
Major Ben Herman Texas State Parks Regions 5 and 6 Ben Herman is the Major for Regions 2 and 3 with Texas Parks and Wildlife – State Park Police. He has worked for the agency 20 years at six different duty stations
Chief Dennis Cease Past President Wyoming State Parks (Retired)
Brian Haug Regional Supervisor Kansas State Parks Brian’s career with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks spans over 20 years. He received his degree in Parks and Resource Management. He has been a certified Law Enforcement Officer for over 16 years and has worked in numerous parks in Kansas as a Park Ranger, Firearms Instructor, Park Manager, and Regional Supervisor. He is passionate in furthering the profession of Park Law Enforcement through training and development of officers. |
Capt. Carl Nielsen Past Executive Director Florida Dept. of Environ. Prot. (Retired)  Capt. Jeff Geer Texas State Parks Jeff Geer is a seasoned law enforcement leader with 32 years of dedicated service to the State of Texas, including 28 years with Texas Parks and Wildlife. As a Captain with the State Park Police, based in Tyler, Texas, Jeff has built a career centered on protecting the state’s natural resources and ensuring the safety of millions of park visitors. Throughout his career, Jeff has served as an agency instructor, helping train and mentor the next generation of State Park Police Officers. His expertise and professionalism also led to his selection for the Executive Protection Team, where he supports high‑level security operations with precision, discretion, and leadership.
Patrick Theriot Louisiana State Parks Patrick Theriot is a seasoned law enforcement leader with 40 years of military and civilian experience across corrections, patrol, investigations, and administration. A passionate educator, he has served as a Field Training Program Manager and an instructor at multiple police training academies throughout Louisiana. Following his retirement from the sheriff's office, Patrick transitioned to state-level leadership and currently serves as the Chief Law Enforcement Officer for the Louisiana Office of State Parks. |
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Past Presidents of the Park Law Enforcement Association
This is our list of those members who have served as our President, of which we are grateful for their leadership and dedication. At our February 15th, 2016 Board Meeting the Board Members unanimously passed a motion to recognize all past presidents as Honorary Lifetime members. All Past Presidents serve on the Executive Board along with the Executive Officers and the Executive Director.
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Past Executive Directors of the Park Law Enforcement Association
Carl Nieslen
PLEA STATE CHAPTERS