The history of the Park Police predates both the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service. Created in 1791 by our first president, George Washington, the U. S. Park Police have been on duty in our Federal parks for more than 200 years. The United States Park Police is a unit of the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, with jurisdiction in all National Park Service areas and certain other Federal and State lands. The United States Park Police provide law enforcement services to designated areas within the National Park Service (primarily the Washington, D.C., New York City and San Francisco, California metropolitan areas).

The Force provides highly trained and professional police officers to prevent and detect criminal activity, conduct investigations, apprehend individuals suspected of committing offenses against Federal, State and local laws, provide protection to the President of the United States and visiting dignitaries, and provide protective services to some of the most recognizable monuments and memorials in the world.