02-637
Arches National Park (UT)
Pursuit and Arrest of Armed Felon
On December 6, the pursuit of an armed man who had stolen a Utah
Highway Patrol (UHP) cruiser was resolved when he was arrested less than
a half mile north of the remote northeast boundary of Arches. Over 30
officers and two aircraft from seven agencies, including two Arches
rangers, were involved in the pursuit and ensuing manhunt. After
crashing the patrol car on a rugged two-track road, the handcuffed
suspect, L.S., stole an assault rifle from the trunk of the
car and fled on foot. An Arches ranger was dispatched to secure the
eastern flank of the search area and evacuate a 15-person NPS exotic
vegetation crew working in the Lost Spring Canyon part of the park. The
ranger was the first officer to make contact with L.S., who was near
the NPS work crew vehicles. A minute later, two UHP officers with a
police dog arrived. L.S. was arrested without incident following a
short foot chase. The rifle was recovered several days later about a
mile from the arrest site.
[Submitted by Jim Webster, Chief
Ranger]
02-638
Arches National Park (UT)
Pursuit and Arrest of Tractor-Trailer Operator
On December 17, five Arches and Canyonlands rangers assisted local
law enforcement agencies in securing Highway 191 through and near Moab,
including the Arches entrance road, when a semi tractor-trailer driver
led police on a dangerous high speed chase through two states and down
the main street of Moab. The operators, M.P. of Salt Lake City,
had driven through two roadblocks and had his tires flattened by road
spikes. He told police via telephone and CB radio that "you guys will
have to kill me, I'm not stopping." The truck was finally stopped four
miles north of the park entrance, but only after the trailer's air brake
lines had been disabled by gunshots fired by a Utah Highway Patrol
supervisor, causing the rear wheels of the trailer to seize up. M.P.
was finally arrested after officers broke the truck window to get to
him.
[Submitted by Jim Webster, Chief Ranger]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Yosemite National Park (CA)
Several Permanent GS-9 Ranger Positions
The park is seeking candidates for several permanent GS-9 ranger positions. Yosemite is one of the most complex and busiest parks in the National Park Service. In 2001, Yosemite rangers handled hundreds of criminal cases (ranging from felonious assaults to major resource violations), nearly 200 search and rescues (many of which were high angle, technical rescues), and hundreds of medical aid calls. Aside from general road patrol duties, rangers have excellent opportunities to be involved in the following programs:
- Horse patrol
- Bike patrol
- Special response team (if qualified)
- Structural/wildland fire
- A multitude of other programs
Positions are available in all three of the park's districts (Valley, Mather, Wawona). Interested candidates are encouraged to apply through vacancy announcement YOSE-03-31-IK-MPP (merit promotion), which is currently on USA JOBS (Closes 01/10/03). For candidates without status, an all sources vacancy announcement is pending and should be out on USA Jobs during the next several weeks. For additional information on jobs in the Wawona District, contact Lulis Cuevas at 209-375-9520; in Mather District, contact Dave Lattimore at 209-379-1897; in Valley District, contact Jim Tucker at 209-372-0224.
[Submitted by Cameron Sholly, Deputy Chief Ranger - Operations]
Kings Mountain National Military Park (SC)
GS-9 Protection Ranger
The park is seeking candidates for a permanent GS-9 protection ranger position. The ranger selected for the position will be involved in a wide array of duties, including law enforcement, boundary management, EMS, search and rescue, and various resource management activities. The park has an active fire program with prescribed fire as a major component. The incumbent serves as the park safety officer and as the acting chief ranger in absence of the chief ranger. This position is truly a "traditional ranger" position with many opportunities to gain experience and knowledge in many facets of park operations. The park is located in the piedmont area of South Carolina immediately adjacent to the North Carolina border. The area offers easy access to many cultural and natural areas. This is a required occupancy position; the residence is a recently remodeled "Mission 66" house. The position is currently advertised on USA Jobs and closes on December 27. The announcement number is SESO-03-18. For further information, please contact chief ranger Chris Revels at 864-936-7921.
[Submitted by Chris Revels, Chief Ranger]
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found on the left side of the front page of InsideNPS. All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office and a copy to Dennis Burnett in Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO.
Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.