- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Wednesday, February 19, 1992
- Date: Wed, 19 Feb 1992
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
Ranger Activities Division Information Network
Day/Date: Wednesday, February 19, 1992
INCIDENTS
92-40 - Harpers Ferry (West Virginia) - ARPA Case
On the afternoon of February 16th, park visitors reported seeing two men
using metal detectors in the Six Gun Battery on Maryland Heights. Rangers
Bob Mackreth and Bruce Hasson responded. Hasson spotted a man holding a
metal detector and dressed in camouflage hiding amid some rocks. When the
man fled, Hasson gave chase, but slipped and injured his ankle in the rocky
terrain. Although the man escaped, rangers impounded his metal detector, a
digging implement and a sack with 275 Civil War era bullets. Inspection of
the area revealed over 30 illegal excavations, all believed done during that
day. An archeological assessment is underway. Hasson is expected to be out
of work for at least a week with a badly sprained ankle. [Telefax from Bob
Mackreth, HAFE, 2/17]
92-41 - San Antonio Missions (Texas) - Burglary
Sometime during the night of February 15th, the park's headquarters building
was burglarized. Entry was gained through a window in the conference room;
another window was broken, but not enough to allow entry. The chain link
fence around the maintenance area was removed to allow access and escape
with the stolen property. A computer, an electric typewriter, a VCR and a
monitor with a combined estimated value of $10,000 were taken. A complete
inventory is being conducted to determine if anything else was stolen.
Although the building's intrusion alarm system hadn't been functioning since
the 14th, the Federal Protective Service had not notified the park that it
was out of service. [Alan Cox, CR, SAAN, via CompuServe message from Jim
Radney, RLES, RAD/SWRO, 2/18]
92-42 - Delaware Water Gap (New Jersey/Pennsylvania) - Car Clout Arrests
Following a weekend during which at least nine larcenies from motor vehicles
occurred in the park's Kittatinny Subdistrict, rangers began a surveillance
operation on the Dunfield Creek parking lot on February 15th. Ranger Marion
Damiano-Nittoli, who was in a hidden position, observed J.C., 32,
forcibly enter an unattended vehicle while his wife, L.Q., 23,
acted as a lookout. The couple had their three-year-old son with them. The
family matched the description of the suspects associated with the car
clouts which had occurred the previous weekend. Rangers Steve Clark, Rich
Shreffler and Wayne Valentine were alerted, stopped the suspects' vehicle
when they left the area, and arrested J.C. and L.Q.. J.C. was
charged by the New Jersey state police on eight counts of burglary, seven
counts of theft, possession of burglary tools, and possession of marijuana.
L.Q. was charged with possession of burglary tools. An investigation is
underway into the couple's involvement with other recent car clouts in the
park, and additional charges are pending. [CompuServe message from Barry
Sullivan, acting CR, DEWA, 2/18]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Volcanic Activity
The U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports the
opening of a new fissure in the vicinity of the Puu Oo vent on Kilauea's
middle rift zone. The fissure, which opened on the evening of the 17th,
starts roughly a quarter of the way up the west flank of the Puu Oo cone.
Lavas issuing from the new fissure are edging north but are largely confined
to the base of the cone. A long line of orange clouds can be seen in the
evening when traveling from Hilo to the park, but no fountains are visible
from the roadway. The recent activity is not expected to impact any park or
visitor activities, and no closures are anticipated. [Jim Martin, HAVO]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
1) A training session for health and fitness coordinators will be held at
Albright from April 13th to the 17th. The program will train people to
establish and run park or regional health and fitness programs. One page
nomination forms should be sent in through your regional training
coordinator promptly, as they need to be received in WASO no later than
March 2nd. [Dick Martin, RAD/WASO]
MEMORANDA
This new and intermittent section of the morning report will apprise you of
recent memoranda originating from Ranger Activities which have been
disseminated to the field on subjects pertaining to field operations.
"Procedures for Recommending Uniform Program Changes and Resolving
Problems", signed February 10, 1992, by David Moffitt, Acting Associate
Director, Operations, and sent the following day to all regional directors
and superintendents.
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.
Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Lee at National Dive Control
Board workshop, Denver, CO (2/17-2/22); Marriott at law enforcement
conservation conference, Prescott, AZ (2/18-2/21); Sisto at damage
assessment regulations meeting, Phoenix, AZ (2/18-2/21).
Branch of Fire and Aviation: Broyles at NWCG quarterly meeting, Savannah, GA
(2/18-2/23); Clark and Bristol at Incinet steering committee meeting,
Atlanta, GA (2/19-2/21).
Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities
Telephone: Branch of R&VP - FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039
Branch of F&A (WASO) - FTS 268-5572/5573 or 202-208-5572/5573
Telefax: Branch of R&VP - FTS 268-6756 or 202-208-6756
Branch of F&A (WASO) - FTS 268-5977 or 202-208-5977
CompuServe: Branch of R&VP - WASO-RANGER
Branch of F&A (WASO) - WASO-FIRE-WO
SEAdog: Branch of R&VP - 1/650
Branch of F&A (WASO) - 1/655