Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Manhunt For Killer of Garfield County Deputy
A Garfield County deputy was killed in a shootout around 3:30 p.m. on
Sunday afternoon on a dirt road five miles south of Escalante. Deputy
David Jones stopped a 1994 white Ford pickup on Alvey Wash Road to
investigate two men suspected of driving under the influence. After
making the stop, Jones called in information on the truck and asked for
backup and a tow truck. When the tow truck arrived five minutes later,
the driver found that Jones had been shot. Park dispatch was notified of
the incident about ten minutes later. Rangers were asked to help find
the suspects, who were thought to be southbound toward the park. Ranger
Shawn McNally headed to Warm Creek Road on the park's north boundary and
established an incident command post. Many local agencies responded with
officers and equipment. The park's airplane and Classic Helicopter, a
local contract medical helicopter, were called in to provide air
support. The pickup was found about ten miles north of the park in an
extremely remote part of south central Utah. It was traveling on
four-wheel-drive roads and headed toward the park. While ranger/pilot
Jim Traub orbited over the pickup and provided directions, a
three-person ranger/deputy team was placed about a half mile down the
road from the pickup. As the vehicle passed them, they were able to
positively identify it and its occupants and obtain the Utah license
plate number. Blood was on the passenger side door, and a high-powered
rifle was seen inside the truck. A second team of Arizona DPS officers
was flown in and placed further down the road. They stopped the truck
and arrested the pair without incident. One of the two men had gunshot
wounds in his arm and chest, sustained during the shootout with the
deputy; a bullet was lodged in his right lung. The wounded man was flown
to Page hospital, then transferred to Flagstaff Medical Center. Special
agent Brian O'Dea conducted the first interview of the wounded man at
the hospital and confirmed that he was the one who had shot the deputy.
Officers from many jurisdictions worked together to find and arrest the
two men. The other involved rangers were Eric Scott, Steven Clary, Jim
Nichols, Dave Bauer, Matt Micale and Brenda Russell. Memorial services
for Jones are set for 1 p.m. on Friday in Escalante. He leaves a wife
and family.
[Submitted by Mike Mayer, Assistant Chief Ranger]
Golden Gate National Recreation Area (CA)
Two Canine Rescues
On the morning of January 5, ranger Lopez-Milano received a report
that a visitor's dog was stuck on one of the sandstone cliffs above the
Pacific Ocean at Fort Funston. The visitor said that he was walking his
dog off-leash when it disappeared over the cliff edge. He saw that the
dog made it to the bottom of the cliff and was dodging large waves that
were hitting the base of the cliff. When a friend went to rescue the
50-pound dog, he and the dog became stranded half way up. Ranger Eddy
was lowered to the pair and outfitted both in harnesses (the dog's was
specially-designed for such rescues). All were then raised to the top.
Ranger Warmerdam received a similar report the next afternoon less than
a mile north of the first incident. This time, the dog was alone on a
tiny shelf on an unstable 100-foot cliff above the ocean. The 120-pound
bull mastiff, named "Astro," had become stranded there while wandering
off leash. The owner said that she saw the dog disappear over the cliff
edge and had called for help. Warmerdam was lowered to "Astro,"
outfitted the dog in a large dog harness, and raised it to the top.
Lopez-Milano was IC. The park has an ongoing problem with dogs off leash
in all areas, and has had a concomitant increase in dogs and visitors
falling off the cliffs at Fort Funston. Rangers have purchased, trained
with, and employed two sizes of specialized dog harnesses in response to
this upswing in canine rescues. Citations are regularly issued to
rescued visitors in these cases. Warnings and citations are being used
to address the issue of dogs off leash.
[Submitted by John Evans,
Supervisory Park Ranger, South District]
Haleakala National Park (HI)
Search for Jumper; Probable Fatality
On January 27, visitors saw a 27-year-old man jump off the 184-foot
Makahiku Falls into the 10 to 15-foot-deep pool below. Rangers worked
the margins of the pool until midnight, looking for the man. The search
effort was to resume at first light yesterday morning. If his body does
not appear, plans are have searchers snorkel the hundred by hundred foot
pool, which is filled with rocks.
[Submitted by Karen Newton, Chief
Ranger]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Point Reyes National Seashore (CA)
GS-9 Protection Ranger [REVISED]
[Note: The original entry asked prospective applicants to submit an "OF-316 or SF-71." That has been corrected to OF-612 or SF-171. As Colin noted: "If we have to decide who to hire from employees submitting leave slips, we will have a hard time."]
The park is currently seeking to fill a GS-9 ranger position through a lateral transfer. This position is open to any protection ranger at the GS-9 level or above; it's a 6c primary positions and requires a Level I commission and an EMT-B certificate. Occupancy is required, with housing in the headquarters area. The person who is selected will serve as a patrol ranger, with the opportunity to perform frontcountry and backcountry patrols by foot, mountain bike, vehicle and horseback. It's a great opportunity to perform resource-based law enforcement in a park with great land and water-based opportunities. If you're interested, send an application (OF-612 or SF-171) or resume, postmarked by February 23, to Anne Tisei, HR Officer, Point Reyes NS, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956. Questions should be directed to Steve Stinnett, operations supervisor, at 415-464-5273.
[Submitted by Colin Smith, Acting 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.