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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT BLACKBERRY EDITION Friday, January 27, 2006 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Great Smoky Mountains NP Three Arrested for Homicide in Park On January 15th, hikers found the body of a young woman in the woods approximately 20 yards off of Toms Branch Road, which is located in the Deep Creek area of the park. Rangers, a special agent, and Swain County deputies responded to the scene and began an investigation. The FBI joined in the following morning. The preliminary investigation found that she had been shot twice in the face and that the murder had occurred at the location where her body had been found. The woman's identity was unknown and there were no missing person reports matching her description. Cherokee tribal police joined into the intensive investigation, which led to the identification of the 17-year-old victim, an enrolled Cherokee tribal member. The investigation led to the January 20th arrest of a 20-year-old man, also an enrolled tribal member. The man confessed to the murder and said that he and another person had driven the woman into the park on January 13th and shot her with a .38 caliber revolver. On January 24th, two other men - one age 18, the other age 19 - were arrested and charged with being accessories after the fact to murder. A federal magistrate judge has ordered all three men to be held without bond. Additional charges may follow upon presentation to a grand jury. More information will follow as the case progresses. (John Mattox, Special Agent) Hot Springs NP Rangers Assist in Response to Shooting During the late hours of January 19th, Hot Springs Police Department broadcast a call for all available law enforcement officers to respond to a shooting that had just occurred about a quarter mile from the park boundary. A Hot Springs officer had been in the process of detaining four people when one of them attempted to flee. The officer pursued and was fired upon by the fleeing man, who was armed with a handgun. The officer, who was not injured, requested backup, as the man fled into a nearby wooded area. Hot Springs rangers responded with night vision goggles and assisted the canine tracking units. The search was discontinued around midnight when the man was positively identified by his companions. An arrest warrant was subsequently issued. [Dennis Stock, Chief Ranger] PARKS AND PEOPLE National Capital Regional Office Einar Olsen Named Assistant Regional Director Einar S. Olsen has been named the assistant regional director for management analysis for National Capital Region. Olsen's appointment is effective January 23rd. “Einar brings great capabilities to this position due to his considerable experience and training,” said Joe Lawler, NCR regional director. “As the business of managing our National Park units evolves in complexity, we will need employees with multiple skill sets and experiences. Einar's ability will serve us well as we continue to analyze our operations for efficiencies and improved delivery of services.” In this capacity, Olsen will lead the region's management efforts in core operations analysis, park evaluations, director's legacy initiatives, GAO program reviews, policy reviews/director's orders, and liaison with the Washington headquarters on similar programs. A 22-year NPS veteran, Olsen has served as the regional chief ranger for NCR for the past 12 years, managing 13 programs in visitor and resources protection. He has also served as acting associate regional director/operations and as acting assistant superintendent at National Capital Parks - East. In his present position, he has achieved a number of accomplishments in the law enforcement and emergency services areas, including the successful negotiation of a concurrent jurisdiction agreement with the state of Maryland, establishment of the 24-hour regional emergency communications center, coordination of a regional emergency management/homeland security strategy, establishment of partnership task forces on Potomac River Gorge fisheries enforcement and river safety, creation of environmental crimes legislation for D.C., and advocacy for protection ranger issues. During his tenure, the region also implemented the national fire plan by preparing new fire plans for all parks and increasing the number of wildfire personnel from 70 to over 200. Olsen has been recognized by the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice for leading the Service's environmental crimes initiative for five years and he has received a DOI secretarial unit award for his youth conservation initiatives that resulted in a successful partnership with Americorps. Born in White Plains, N.Y., Olsen holds a bachelor of arts degree in geography from Virginia Tech, and a master of public administration degree from George Mason University. Rocky Mountain NP Three Staff Members Retire The park recently bade a fond farewell to three of its long-time staff. After 29 years of service, all at Rocky Mountain National Park, Kurt Oliver retired on December 24th. He was most recently the district ranger for east side operations. On January 2nd, Jim Capps retired after 22 years as the district interpreter on the west side of the park (Colorado River District). In all, Jim had 37 years of federal service. Also on January 2nd, science officer Terry Terrell retired. She came to the park 5 1/2 years ago from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, where she had most recently served as a deputy regional director. She had a total of 29 years of federal service. Rocky Mountain National Park is the better for the dedicated work of these fine people. [Katy Sykes] * * * * * Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA. --- ### --- |