(a) The division of parks and recreation is authorized to employ a suitable number of persons as park rangers, ranger naturalists, park managers and in other positions, however designated or named, having qualifications established by the division of parks and recreation, and approved by the department of human resources. They will manage and supervise the operation of the state parks and other recreational areas managed or administered by the division; provided, that persons employed as park rangers as of January 1, 1986, who meet the qualifications set out by this section as it existed on January 1, 1986, shall not be denied promotion to a position as park manager or any equivalent position because of not meeting any more stringent qualifications which may be established pursuant to this subsection (a).

(b) Employees of the division of parks and recreation, when properly trained and qualified, may be commissioned by the commissioner of environment and conservation as law enforcement officers. When so commissioned, they shall have all of the police powers necessary to enforce all state laws, rules and regulations, within the state parks, state forests, state natural areas, all other state-owned areas under the jurisdiction of the division, and all recreational areas which are administered or managed by the division under lease, easement or other agreement with any public or private owner of the property. The commissioned employees of the division shall have all police powers necessary to apprehend and arrest any person within the state, for any violation of state law or rule or regulation of the division committed on any state park or other area described above. They shall enforce the laws, rules and regulations and maintain order, for the protection of state property and the public welfare. They shall have the right to carry firearms or other arms while on duty as commissioned law enforcement officers of the division. It is the responsibility of the division to assure that law enforcement duties are pursued with the utmost awareness and care and not to the detriment of the primary responsibilities of rangers and managers, which are to provide for visitor information and education, to manage and maintain park resources and personnel and to conduct recreation programs.

(c)

(1) Notwithstanding title 12, chapter 2, part 4, when the division of parks and recreation makes a determination to retire an equine from service, the park ranger, ranger naturalist, park manager or any other similar employee who has used the equine to carry out such person's duties as a law enforcement officer or as an employee of the division of parks and recreation, may take possession of the equine upon paying to the division of parks and recreation the value assigned to the equine pursuant to subdivision (c)(3).

(2) Upon taking possession of a retired equine pursuant to subdivision (c)(1), the park ranger, ranger naturalist, park manager or any other similar employee shall be responsible for all costs associated with maintaining such equine.

(3) The division of parks and recreation is authorized to promulgate rules in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5, necessary to carry out this subsection (c) including establishing a value for the equine at the time the decision is made to retire the equine from service.

(d) The division of parks and recreation, with the approval of the department of human resources, shall establish standards of training and qualification for the commissioning of employees as law enforcement officers, and for in-service training of its commissioned employees. Training standards shall be consistent with those established by a recognized agency such as the Tennessee peace officer standards and training commission, the Jerry F. Agee Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy or the department of interior, national park service.

(e) After twenty-five (25) years of honorable service by a commissioned employee, the department of environment and conservation, bureau of state parks and recreation shall authorize the employee, upon retirement, to retain such employee's service weapon in recognition of the employee's many years of good and faithful service. A commissioned employee who retires on disability retirement also may be authorized to retain that employee's service weapon.