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Subject: NPS Morning Report - Friday, February 4, 2000
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Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2000 08:45:44 -0500
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Friday, February 4, 2000
ALMANAC
On this date in 1861, a convention to form the Confederate States of
American opened in Montgomery, Alabama. This action led to war two
months later at Fort Sumter, now Fort Sumter National Monument, South
Carolina.
INCIDENTS
99-259 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Follow-up: Attempted Murder
Visitor C.R., 34, of Santa Monica, stabbed her male companion
in the back while he slept in their cabin at Housekeeping Camp during
the early morning hours of June 4, 1999. C.R. was subsequently
indicted for attempted murder (18 USC 1113) and was held in custody
and evaluated for competency. C.R. was found to be insane at the time
of the act and therefore pled not guilty by reason of insanity. The
court has concluded that C.R.'s failure to adhere to her medication
and therapy program contributed to the attempted murder. C.R. was
unable to prove that her release wouldn't constitute a "substantial
risk of bodily injury to another person." The court has accordingly
remanded her to the custody of the attorney general until she is
cured. [Scott Hinson, YOSE, 2/3]
00-008 - Gateway NRA (NY/NJ) - Follow-up: Homicide
A USPP officer found a burning body in the bunker area of Fort Tilden
early on the morning of January 15th. The victim was identified as
18-year-old S.K. of Brooklyn, New York. He was killed by a
stab wound to the heart prior to being burned. A joint USPP/NYPD
investigation led to the February 3rd arrests of O.K. and
E.G., both 18 and also from Brooklyn. Investigators have
determined that the murder was the result of an on-going dispute over
money and vehicles, and that all parties knew each other well. S.K.
was stabbed at Fort Tilden, then moved to the bunker area and set on
fire in an effort to hinder any investigation. O.K. has been
charged with intentional murder, depraved murder, evidence tampering,
and criminal possession of stolen property; E.G. has been charged
with hindering prosecution, evidence tampering and criminal possession
of stolen property. They will be prosecuted under state statutes, but
the U.S. Attorney's Office is following the case and will later
determine whether or not to seek additional federal charges. [Lt. John
Marigliano, USPP, GATE, 2/4]
00-032 - New River Gorge NR (WV) - Homicide Conviction
On February 1st, B.H., 63, of Nimitz, West Virginia, was
convicted of first degree murder in the 1992 death of his wife,
P.R. This case was the culmination of a joint, seven-year
investigation by the West Virginia State Police, Summers County
Sheriff's Department and the National Park Service. P.R. disappeared
from her home on December 15, 1992. In June, 1994, her skull and other
bones were found by West Virginia troopers and park rangers and
investigators who were searching an illegal dump below Brooks Overlook
along State Route 20 inside the park. These remains were sent to the
state medical examiner's office, and they determined that she had been
killed by blunt trauma to the head. Over the next several years state
police and park investigators discovered additional evidence both
inside and outside of the park. During the spring of 1998,
investigators learned that DNA technology had advanced sufficiently to
extract DNA from the bones. The DNA was found to match DNA in the
blood found in the trunk of P.R.'s car and in the house that B.H.
and P.R. shared. This DNA technology did not exist in 1994 when the
bones were found. In November, 1998, B.H. was indicted by a county
grand jury for the murder of P.R. During his incarceration prior to
the trial, B.H. confessed to the murder to a inmate. Sentencing
will be on February 28th. [Chris Schrader, CI, NERI, 2/3]
CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Organ Pipe Cactus NM (AZ) - Backcountry Management
Rangers completed a backcountry project in January that created a
network of 15 miles of trails in Senita Basin. The project involved
converting abandoned and overgrown mine roads into single track trails
and connecting old roads and existing trails together. In 1999,
seasonal backcountry ranger Mike Gallant, working with Nancy Favour,
the monuments GIS specialist, employed GPS to develop a detailed map
of the trails with accurate distances between points. During the
summer of 1998 and 1999, rangers Steve Ganitsch and Karl Pearson led
the Tohono O'odham Youth Rangers in the trail work. Black anodized
aluminum signs were placed throughout the trail system. Maps of the
trails are provided free at the visitor center along with a free
shuttle service to assist hikers using the trails. [Karl Pearson,
ORPI]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Study on NPS Women in LE - All managers and female law enforcement
personnel who have received questionnaires regarding the study of
women in law enforcement but have not yet sent them back should submit
them immediately. ALL responses are needed. [Victoria Squier, WASO]
Take Home Vehicles - There has been some confusion lately regarding
the approval process for take home vehicles. In August, 1995, the
National Park Service received approval for use of government vehicles
for home-to-work transportation by those employees deemed essential
for the safe and efficient performance of intelligence, protective
services, or criminal law enforcement duties pursuant to 31 US 1344.
The approval for NPS law enforcement/fire positions was signed by the
Secretary of the Interior on August 9, 1995, and covered the
following job series:
o SP-0083, police officer
o GS-0025, park ranger
o GS-1811, criminal investigator
o GS-2181, park pilot
o GS-0081, fire management officer
These positions have blanket approval from the secretary's office and
no longer need to be renewed. Parks may approve home to work
transportation for personnel in those positions; there is no
requirement for regional nor WASO approval or to have the positions
recertified. A copy of the approval from the Secretary of the
Interior was sent to each regional office for distribution to the
parks. However, any requests for home-to-work use of government
vehicles for law enforcement/fire positions not listed above, such as
GS-0007 correctional officers, must be submitted to the Washington
Property Office for approval from the secretary. Recently, the WASO
Property Office asked for renewals for NPS field work positions not
listed above because they must be renewed every two years. The last
approval for field work positions for the NPS was dated September 22,
1997. There was no request for renewal of law enforcement positions.
(RAD/WASO; Property Office, WASO)
Incident Management Update - An incident management program steering
committee met in Phoenix in January to provide leadership, support and
strategic direction to the development and implementation of the
incident management program within the Service. The committee will:
1. Provide strategic direction and recommendations for long-term
NPS incident management solutions, programs, policies, funding
and interagency involvement.
2. Serve as the focal point for integrated park, regional and
national perspectives in the development of the incident
management program.
3. Create an arena for integration of the NPS incident management
program with the existing fire management program.
4. Develop a qualification system, training curriculum and
performance-based certification system for incident operations.
5. Craft strategies for implementation of steering committee
recommendations.
Task groups of subject matter experts will be called upon to make
specific recommendations or suggest alternatives, as needed. Committee
representatives include Josie Fernandez (WORI), Ron Everhart (IMRO),
Judy Forte (SERO), JD Swed (DENA), Dave Lattimore (YOSE), Skip Brooks
(COLO), Greg Stiles (SHEN), Merrie Johnson (NIFC), Mary Furney (HUTR),
Ruth Kohler (SOAR), and Bill Adams [NIFC]. [Jose Fernandez, WORI]
MEMORANDA
No submissions.
INTERCHANGE
No submissions.
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Effigy Mounds NM - The park is currently accepting applications for a
full-time, permanent, GS-025-11 chief of interpretation and visitor
services. The announcement number is MWR-00-01. It's on USA Jobs and
open until February 11th. Duties include division management,
budgeting, planning, and operations; programs include interpretation
and education, special programs and events, visitor services, fees,
law enforcement and physical security, and cooperating association.
The incumbent will not be required to obtain a law enforcement
commission.
Gulf Islands NS - The park is currently advertising for GS-5 and GS-7
park ranger (LE) positions. There are several positions to be filled
(the exact number depends on the budget) and all are seasonal, not to
exceed 1,039 hours. They are located in the Florida District. Medical
qualification standards are required, and a selective factor is the
eligibility for or possession of a Level 2 (seasonal) law enforcement
commission. Other conditions of employment also exist. If you're
interested in one of these positions or know someone who's interested,
you can obtain the vacancy announcements at USA Jobs or call the job
line at 850-934-2601 and ask that a hard copy be sent to you. The
announcement numbers are GUIS-S00-09 for GS-5's and GUIS-S00-10 for
GS-7's. Both opened on February 3rd and close on February 16th.
* * * * *
Distribution of the Morning Report is through a mailing list managed
by park, office and/or regional cc:Mail hub coordinators. Please
address requests pertaining to receipt of the Morning Report to your
servicing hub coordinator. The Morning Report is also available on
the web at http://www.nps.gov/morningreport
Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the
cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.
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