I believe gaijin is in agreement with you, posting the excuses some cops give for being jerks.
The ranger could have been nice, and ushered the couple on their way out of the park. Instead, he wanted to pretend he was a combat soldier in Iraq and harass the couple. This was a park, not a hi-security military installation!
You are exactly correct —that Park Ranger incident was totally outrageous.
Sometimes when I think I’ve heard another formulaic excuse, and then another comes out.
I collect them.