Virgin Islands National Park (VI)
Stranded Diver Rescued
Three scuba divers became stranded on the rocks at Bovocopa Point due
to rough surf conditions late on the morning of January 1. Two of them
were able to hike out and reach their inflatable dinghy, which was on
the beach at Hart Bay. They then attempted to rescue their companion,
S.E. of Rhode Island. For over five hours, they worked to
rescue him, but failed because of the large swells, strong winds and the
danger of being forced onto the rocks. Ranger Al Miller received a
request for assistance from Virgin Islands PD around 4:30 that
afternoon. Miller, ranger Regina Carrico, and two VIPD officers
responded in a park patrol boat. They made several attempts to signal
and tell him to leave his gear and accept the life jacket
that they were going to provide him. waved them off, though,
yelling that he was going to attempt to walk out with his gear. At the
same time, the rangers received a report of a visitor who'd stepped on a
sea urchin on the beach at Reef Bay a half mile away and needed to be
evacuated. Since was in no immediate danger and there was a
St. John SAR vessel on scene, they left the area and headed to Reef Bay,
but found no sign of the victim at that location. Upon returning to
Bovocopa Point, they found that had not moved from his
previous location. As darkness approached, surf and weather conditions
deteriorated. Miller maneuvered the patrol boat close to the shore and a
rescue swimmer from St. John SAR swam a rescue line through the large
swells to . He was then hauled to the rangers' boat and taken
to Cruz Bay, where his wife was waiting. Paramedics checked and released
him.
[Submitted by Al Miller, Park Ranger]
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (AZ)
High-Speed Pursuit; Recovery of Stolen Vehicle
A white mini-van traveling north on Route 85 on January 5 turned
around in traffic in front of a patrol car and headed south at a high
rate of speed. The California registration came back as stolen. The van
headed for Mexico at speeds up to 110 mph. Northbound traffic was
stopped at the Lukeville port of entry in order to assure public safety.
Rangers then spiked the van's tires. The van traveled another half mile
before leaving the highway and continuing for another tenth of a mile
off-road, causing a significant amount of resource damage before
stopping due to three flattened tires. Eight undocumented aliens were
arrested and turned over to the Border Patrol. Another five escaped into
the desert along with the driver. Assisting agencies included the Border
Patrol and Customs.
[Submitted by Bo Stone, Park Ranger]
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (PA)
Drug Conviction Sentencing
On January 8, M.K. was sentenced to two months in jail,
$2,000 in fines and a year's probation following his conviction on two
counts of possession of marijuana (21 USC 844). On July 27, 2001,
M.K. was stopped for speeding on Route 611 by ranger Gregg Tinkham.
During the ensuing investigation, Tinkham found over four pounds of
marijuana in M.K.'s Ford Mustang and 41 grams on his person. Four
months later, Tinkham again pulled M.K. over for a traffic violation.
A consent search of his commercial truck led to the recovery of a small
amount of marijuana in the cab. M.K. later pleaded guilty to all
charges, but was able to have his sentence reduced in part because of
information he supplied that led rangers Don Philpot and Brian McDonnell
to stop a cocaine dealer traveling on the same route and seize seven
baggies of cocaine from him. The dealer pleaded guilty to two 36 CFR
charges and paid $600 in fines.
[Submitted by Chris A. Kross,
Supervisory Park Ranger]
Saint Croix National Scenic River (WI)
Search; Apparent Suicide
On January 2, two local Wisconsin police departments asked the park
to assist them the next day in the search for a man who'd walked away
from a local halfway house the day before. The man had a long history of
drug and alcohol abuse and had attempted suicide previously. Ranger Rod
Turner helped with initial search planning and coordination on the
morning of January 3. Early that afternoon, park compliance specialist
Jill Medland and her search dog "Grace" joined the search and soon found
the man's body in the primary search area at the bottom of a 100-foot
cliff across the St. Croix River from the Osceola day use area. It's
believed that he either jumped or fell from the cliff some time on New
Year's Day. Alcohol and a possible drug overdose are considered causal
and possibly primary factors in his death.
[Submitted by Rod Turner,
Subdistrict Ranger]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Gulf Islands National Seashore (FL,MS)
Seasonal Law Enforcement Ranger
The park is currently advertising for a seasonal LE ranger in its Mississippi District. Although there's just one position, it's being advertised at the GS-0025-5 and GS-0025-7 grade levels. Each grade level has a separate job announcement. They are, respectively, DEU GUIS 03-04 and 03-05. Applicants must submit two separate applications if they wish to be considered for both grades. Both announcements close on January 28. Occupancy of shared government housing (bunkhouse style) is required on Ship Island. You can obtain the job announcements at www.usajobs.opm.gov or by calling 850-934-2601.
[Submitted by Kitty Lewis]
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.