RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Wednesday, October 17, 1990
INCIDENTS
90-366 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Investigation into Employee Death
The Hawaii County Police Department is conducting an investigation into the
disappearance of park Maintenance employee Bruce Shimizu, 56, who may have
been murdered. On October 14th, Shimizu's locked vehicle and broken fishing
gear were found near Hilo Bay, 30 miles from the park, but Shimizu could not
be found. The next day, a juvenile male walked into the county police
department and confessed to killing Shimizu and throwing his body into the
Wailuku River. The suspect said that he had gotten angry with Shimizu,
beaten him up, thrown his body in the river, and destroyed his fishing
equipment. A search for Shimizu is underway, but he has not yet been
located. Shimizu began working in the park in 1978 as a YACC employee.
Since 1983, he had worked in various laborer positions, most recently as a
painter. The incident occurred while Shimizu was on a break in service as a
temporary employee. (Paul Ducasse, HAVO, via CompuServe message from Herb
Gercke, RAD/WRO, 10/16).
90-367 - Everglades (Florida) - Airplane Crash
On the evening of the 15th, a single-engine Piper aircraft crashed into the
waters of Chokoloskee Bay, a half mile from the Gulf Coast ranger station in
Everglades City and about 300 yards outside the park boundary. The plane
was taking off from the Everglades City airport when the accident occurred.
Rangers Garrett Moynihan and Kevin FitzGerald were the first law enforcement
personnel on scene. They joined sheriff's deputies and local residents in
efforts to rescue the occupants of the aircraft, but were not successful.
Two bodies were recovered that night; the third was retrieved the following
morning. (Telefax from Mark Lewis, LBS, Everglades, 10/16).
90-368 - Harpers Ferry (West Virginia) - Planned Demonstration
The Washington, D.C., Chapter of the International Committee Against Racism
(INCAR) has requested a permit to conduct a demonstration in the park on the
21st. During last year's demonstration, rangers and Park Police officers
worked together to ensure that there were no incidents, and Park Police will
again be providing support to the park this weekend. We'll advise you of
the outcome next week. (Telefaxed report from Capt. Marvin Ellison,
RAD/NCRO, 10/16).
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Alaska Region - This year's clean-up of park beaches impacted by the Exxon
Valdez oil spill has ended with better results than last year. Although a
considerable amount of oil still remains in many areas, Exxon made a
concerted effort to remove as much of the accessible oil as possible. The
Service's resource protection officer (RPO) program is being viewed by the
Coast Guard and Exxon as one of the great successes of the clean-up effort.
ARC extends its thanks to all those of you who participated in the RPO
program. (Telefaxed report from Dan Hamson, Oil Spill Office, ARO, 10/9).
FIRE ACTIVITY
No NICC fire report today.
OFFICE NOTES
1) Because of budget uncertainties, R&R Uniform was instructed last week to
refrain from shipping any orders to National Park Service field areas. It
appears that we may soon be able to lift this freeze, but it is currently
still in effect. We will advise you as soon as there is any change.
STAFF STATUS
- Division Chief: Dabney on AL (10/15-10/19).
- Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Marriott at meeting in Atlanta
(10/16-10/18).
- Branch of Fire: Hurd and Gale in Marana, Arizona (10/15-10/19); Broyles
at National Safety Council meeting in Portland (10/14-10/19); Botti on
fire review at Yosemite (10/13-10/18).
Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities
Telephone: FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039
Telefax: FTS 268-5977 or 202-208-5977
CompuServe: WASO-RANGER (Branch of R&VP); WASO-FIRE-WO (Branch of Fire)
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