AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE WAS FORMED AND PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYS USED TO HELP DETERMINE THE NEED FOR POLICE SERVICES IN REGIONAL PARKS. THE GOAL WAS TO SET STAFFING GUIDELINES, IDENTIFY EXISTING REQUIREMENTS AND CAPABILITIES, EVALUATE PRESENT SERVICE LEVELS, AND PROVIDE A BASIS FOR OPERATIONAL PLANNING. THE SURVEY OF CITIES AND COUNTIES HAVING CONNECTIONS WITH THE REGIONAL PARKS SHOWED THAT THE POLICE WOULD CONTINUE TO RESPOND TO PARK NEEDS IN AN EMERGENCY BUT WANTED NO ADDITIONAL WORK. THE SURVEY OF OTHER POLICE PARK AGENCIES SHOWED THAT MOST WANTED PARK EMPLOYEES TO PERFORM PARK FUNCTIONS BUT WERE NOT GENERALLY INTERESTED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. SEASONAL PERSONNEL, BROUGHT IN WHEN STAFFING NEEDS ARE GREATEST, PERFORMED ALL USUAL POLICE FUNCTIONS SUCH AS PATROL, BUT THEIR AVAILABILITY FOR EMERGENCIES WAS MOST IMPORTANT. THE PATROL NEEDS WERE FIGURED IN TERMS OF CAR, HORSEBACK, AND HELICOPTER, WITH THE ACTIVITY LEVEL OR CRIMES REPORTED BASED ON A SAMPLE OF 1974-75 DATA. OF THE 6,000 INCIDENTS REPORTED, 60 PERCENT WERE DISCOVERED FROM OBSERVATION ON PATROL. CONSIDERING TIME NEEDED FOR SERVICES AND ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES, FEWER THAN 4 HOURS OF A NORMAL WORKDAY WERE AVAILABLE FOR PATROL AND OBSERVATION. WORKSHEETS ARE INCLUDED SHOWING THE OFFICER HOURS, TOTAL HOURS, TOTAL HOURS FOR THE SEASON, RECOMMENDED SERVICE, AND STAFFING LEVELS. GOALS ARE RECOMMENDED FOR DETERMINING THE BROAD ROLE OF THE REGIONAL PARK POLICE, WITH SPECIFIC ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL GOALS SUGGESTED. THESE INCLUDE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS WITH OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS, ADEQUATE TRAINING, ANNUAL PERSONNEL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION, MEETING RECOGNIZED STANDARDS FOR POLICE FUNCTIONS, AND BEING VISIBLE AND AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. OTHER GOALS ARE TO PLAN RESOURCE ALLOCATION WITH NEED BASED ON VOLUME OF PARK USERS, REQUESTS FOR SERVICE, AND SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AREA; AND TO PERFORM ONGOING ANALYSIS OF ALL POLICE METHODS AND ACTIVITIES IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE MAXIMUM PRODUCTIVITY OF RESOURCES PROVIDED. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (RFC)