National Capital Parks-East (DC)
Assault on Park Police Officer
On the afternoon of Saturday, February 8, USPP officers Wayne Johnson
and Wayne Bridgeforth were traveling through a neighborhood adjacent to
Oxon Run Parkway in southeast Washington when they saw three pedestrians
signal police presence to the driver of an Isuzu Amigo. When the Isuzu
quickly left the scene and drove through a stop sign without stopping,
the officers followed and stopped it. When questioned about his
activities, the driver gave the officers one bag of marijuana; two more
were found in a search of his person. At this point, the driver pushed
away from the officers and swung at Johnson, missing him. He yelled that
he would not go back to jail and told the officers to kill him. He then
struck Bridgeforth on the cheek and nose, breaking his glasses and
causing minor lacerations and bleeding, and tried to bite Johnson's
hand. The officers were able to handcuff him. They later learned that
this same man was convicted a year ago for felony assault against Park
Police officers Daniel McClanahan and Raymond Valencia in District Four.
In that case, the officers went to his residence to serve an arrest
warrant, whereupon he ran to his car and attempted to run the officers
over. McClanahan fired his weapons twice, striking the vehicle but not
the driver. He was arrested after a pursuit that involved several
agencies and eventually served nine months in prison and three years'
supervised release.
[Submitted by East District Commander, US Park
Police]
Yellowstone National Park (ID,MT,WY)
Conviction and Sentencing for Assault with Intent to Murder
On November 13, 2002, R.N., 31, of Cooke City, Montana, was
convicted in federal court on one count of assault with intent to murder
(18 USC 113(a)). An additional charge of assault resulting in serious
bodily injury was dropped as part of a plea agreement. On January 27,
R.N. was sentenced to serve 87 months (seven-and-a-half years) in jail
and ordered to pay significant restitution to the victim of his assault.
Rangers from Mammoth Hot Springs Subdistrict arrested R.N. during the
early hours of May 21, 2002. They had just been dispatched to
investigate a report that a local resident had been intentionally run
over twice by a pickup truck in front of the Blue Goose Saloon, located
on the north boundary of the park, when R.N.'s vehicle was spotted and
stopped as he fled the scene. Investigation revealed that R.N. was
involved in two heated verbal altercations with the victim while in the
saloon and that a third altercation erupted in the street within park
boundaries a short time later. As R.N. was beginning to drive his
pickup away, he suddenly veered back toward the victim and struck him
with the truck at a high rate of speed, leaving him seriously injured
and disabled in the street. R.N. then drove a short distance, turned
again, and struck the disabled victim as he lay in the street, causing
critical injuries. Park medics administered advanced life support and
the victim was airlifted to a trauma center in Billings, where he
remained in critical condition for several days and underwent multiple
life-saving operations. Mammoth Subdistrict rangers, headquarters staff,
and Park County (Montana) deputies did an outstanding job of crime scene
documentation, processing and on-site witness interviews while park
special agents were returning from a meeting with federal prosecutors in
Jackson, Wyoming. The FBI's Denver evidence response team assisted the
park by processing R.N.'s truck; park staff from other divisions
provided Yellowstone agents with instrumental assistance during the
investigation. NPS special agent Chris Fors was the case agent and
primary investigator. He logged over 300 hours on the case and drove
over 3,600 miles for interviews and court appearances. f
[Submitted
by Brian Smith, Supervisory Special Agent]
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (TX)
Conviction for Assaulting Ranger
Ranger Tyler Stevenson was investigating three suspicious people in
the Rosita off-road area on December 20, 2001 when he discovered that
they were manufacturing methamphetamine. Stevenson had all three under
control with verbal commands while awaiting arrival of backup (30
minutes away). When Stevenson reached down to answer a radio call,
though, they jumped into their nearby vehicle. Stevenson tried to get to
the driver, but was knocked to the ground by the car door. The two men
fled, but were subsequently identified and arrested on state charges for
assaulting a public servant and fleeing. On January 30, the driver,
L.S. of Amarillo, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in
prison for his actions.
[Submitted by Bill Briggs, Chief Ranger]
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (TX)
Drug Conviction
On February 21, 2002, rangers Curtis Oman, Paul Eubank and Dennis
Weiland were dispatched to the concession fish house to investigate a
complaint of illegal drug use. They found four people under the
influence of a controlled substance and in possession of drug
paraphernalia. They also received a report that one of the foursome had
been seen giving drugs to the other three. Investigation revealed that
he had four grams of methamphetamine in his possession. All four were
arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance; one,
R.H. of Fritch, was also arrested on state charges of possession
of methamphetamine for distribution. On February 5, Fritch was sentenced
to seven years in prison.
[Submitted by Bill Briggs, Chief
Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Interagency Fire Center
U.S. Firefighters Help Compatriots in Australia
Due to the grave fire situation in Australia, NIFC has dispatched a number of firefighters and overhead people to provide assistance. The following report was posted by NIFC last Friday....
The states of Victoria and New South Wales in Australia are continuing to experience active wildland fires. So far, 690 fires in Victoria have burned 1.7 million hectares (about 4.2 million acres) of the 7.7 million total hectares of parks and forests. Australia's fire season normally ends around the end of December, with an average of 620 wildfires and 110,000 hectares (271,000 acres).
The Australian government has called on about 3,500 people from various government agencies and the Country Fire Authority, and 127 Australian Army personnel to help fight fires. International assistance includes 66 firefighters from Queensland, 33 from New Zealand, and 35 firefighters from the United States.
Incident Management Team (IMT) Personnel
Scott Vail (T1 IC) shadowed an Australian Incident Controller (IC) at the Incident Command Post in during a shift late last week on the Dargo portion of the Bogong South (West) Complex. Dargo is northeast of Melbourne. Steve Ryberg (T1 Ops) shadowed the Australian Operations Officer. Bill Swope served as the Planning Officer, assuming the task completely.
On the day shift on Friday morning, Aaron Gelobter (T1 IC) was shadowing his Department of Sustainablity and Environment (DSE) and Country Fire Authority (CFA) Incident Controllers. John Swanson (T1 Plans) shadowed in Plans, Joe Millar (T1 Ops) shadowed the Operations Officer and Dick Reynolds (T1 Log) shadowed in Logistics. Dennis Cooper took over the Situation Unit Leader role. Gary Deboi assumed the Resource Unit Leader. This quick transition into these key roles on the incident emphasizes the confidence Victorian fire managers have in the competency and skills of U.S. fire specialists.
Interagency Firefighting Crew
The crew worked is off the line at the moment, taking two days of R&R in Lakes Entrance, a town that has the largest commercial fishing fleet in Australia. It is at the entrance of the Gippsland Lakes, a complex of fresh and brackish lakes that are the outlets of several rivers that drain Victorian alpine areas. The reports are that it is a great place for R&R, and it should be one of the more memorable rest periods for these firefighters.
Infrared Aircraft
The infrared aircraft flew its first mission out of Melbourne this afternoon taking infrared imagery of the southern edge, the eastern area over New South Wales and the northern border. The imagery that they shot should that fire is still very active. Two pilots and two IR technicians stationed at NIFC are providing this service.
For additional information on the fires in New South Wales and Victoria, click on the following web sites: www.npws.nsw.gov.au and www.parkweb.vic.gov.au
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Director/Deputy Directors
Homeland Security Threat Raised to Orange
On Friday, February 7, the White House raised the homeland security threat level to orange.
In announcing the decision, Attorney General John Ashcroft had this to say:
"The United States government continuously reviews intelligence reporting to assess the current threat condition designation and to determine whether or not it should be adjusted.
"After conferring this morning with the Homeland Security Council, the decision has been made to increase the threat condition designation currently classified at elevated risk, to increase that threat condition designation to the high-risk category.
"This decision for an increased threat condition designation Is based on specific intelligence received and analyzed by the full intelligence community. This information has been corroborated by multiple intelligence sources."
Later on Friday, Secretary Norton issued a memorandum entitled "Homeland Security Alert System and Department of the Interior Security Changes." The text of that memo is as follows:
"For the past several months, the Nation has been operating at an 'Elevated' (Yellow) state of alert. Today, as a result of additional information, the national threat level has been increased, from 'Elevated' to 'High' (Orange). The Department, in conjunction with each bureau, is currently implementing enhanced security measures necessary to respond to the change. No government offices have closed, and all employees are expected to report for work next week.
"If you have any questions, please contact your supervisor. Attorney General John Ashcroft's announcement of the increased threat level can be found at www.whitehouse.gov [or by clicking on 'More Information' below]"
A high condition is declared when there is a high risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the measures taken in the previous threat conditions, federal departments and agencies will consider the following protective measures:
- Coordinate necessary security efforts with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, National Guard or other security and armed forces;
- Take additional precautions at public events, possibly considering alternative venues or even cancellation;
- Prepare to execute contingency procedures, such as moving to an alternate site or dispersing the workforce; and
- Restrict access to a threatened facility to essential personnel only.
For additional details, click on "More Information" below.
More Information...
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Rock Creek Park (DC)
GS-5/7/9 Park Ranger (Interpretation)
The park has an opening for a GS 5/7/9 park ranger (interpretation). The merit promotion announcement is NPS-ROCR-03-08 and it closes on February 18. Rock Creek Park offers the best of many worlds - a forested environment in the midst of a vibrant city, the only planetarium in the national park system, and a host of cultural resources, including Civil War forts, archeological sites, and a 19th century grist mill. The park supports training opportunities, and Rock Creek Park programs and interpreters have won many awards, including the regional Freeman Tilden award and the Freedom Star award from the Underground Railroad program. If you would like to work with a diverse group of interesting people in the third oldest National Park in the system, please apply. For more information contact chief ranger Laura Illige at 202-895-6010, or laura_illige@nps.gov. Visit our website at www.nps.gov/rocr.
[Submitted by Laura Illige, Chief Ranger]
Cumberland Island National Seashore (GA)
Park Ranger — Interpretation, GS-5/7/9
Dates: 02/10/2003 - 02/21/2003
Cumberland Island NS is recruiting for a Park Ranger — Interpretation, GS-5/7/9. The 20,000-acre barrier island includes tremendous natural resources, designated wilderness, endangered species, historic structures and prehistoric sites representing 4,000 years of human occupation. About 50,000 people make the ferry trip to the island each year. A small, dedicated audience and varied resources provide tremendous interpretive opportunities. The interpreter in this position will be heavily involved with developing exhibits for a new visitor center, and more projects are on the horizon. There are also opportunities to be involved with resource management, wildland and structure fire, although not required.
The park is located on the southeast coast of Georgia. It enjoys the benefits of a small community (St. Marys/Kingsland), yet is less than hour from Jacksonville, FL, with the advantages of a major city. Vacancy announcement number SESO 03-35. If interested in this active, field-oriented position, contact chief ranger Brian Peters at 912-882-4336, ext. 258
[Submitted by Brian Peters, Chief Ranger, Brian_Peters@nps.gov, 912-882-4336, ext. 258]
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.