NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Monday, April 14, 2008

===============================================================================================================

INCIDENTS

San Francisco Parks

Rangers, USPP Officers Support Olympic Torch Run

Last week, the city of San Francisco hosted the only Olympic Torch relay that will be held in North America prior to this year's summer Olympics in China. A number of relay events had a significant impact on the park:

Monday, April 7 - Three people scaled suspension cables near the south tower of Golden Gate Bridge around 10:30 a.m. and unfurled banners supporting Tibetan independence. They spent almost three hours on the cables before bridge ironworkers caused them to rappel down, where they were arrested by California Highway Patrol officers. The demonstration caused traffic delays for hours and attracted international attention. Golden Gate Bridge police and California Highway Patrol officers handled the incident on the bridge, while United States Park Police officers and protection rangers provided support by closing off access to Fort Point and monitoring access from points on the north.

Tuesday, April 9 - The torch arrived in San Francisco and the park hosted a team of Chinese officials and media for a photo opportunity at Fort Point. Due to the political volatility of this event, rangers and Park Police officers closed access to Fort Point to allow the photographs to be taken without demonstrations or protests. This event occurred without a problem and the area was reopened by noon.

Wednesday, April 9 - Several events were scheduled throughout San Francisco. More then 500 demonstrators participated in a protest march across the Golden Gate Bridge, an event that began at 10 a.m. when participants walked south across the bridge from Vista Point and ended at noon at the Battery East parking lot. Protection rangers and USPP officers provided support and were assigned to posts on both sides of the bridge. Despite the large number of participants and the resulting traffic flow problems within the park, the event concluded without arrests or significant problems. Once this demonstration ended, rangers and officers were redeployed to posts within Golden Gate NRA, the Presidio, and San Francisco Maritime NHP. Since the torch relay was originally scheduled to travel on several streets adjacent to San Francisco Maritime, the Committee of 100 for Tibet petitioned for - and was granted - a First Amendment permit at the site. Nine members of a ranger special response team were assigned to this detail along with 17 Park Police officers and 14 park employees. Due to issues and concerns raised by demonstrations and protests in London and Paris and the various events and gatherings forming within San Francisco, the mayor announced that the torch relay route might be changed or shortened. Rangers and officers were advised to expect changes as the relay moved through the city with minimal to no advance notice. Although the route was not originally scheduled to go through any of areas within Golden Gate NRA, newscasters were speculating that it might now be going through either San Francisco Maritime and/or the Presidio. The relay was scheduled to begin at 1 p.m., but was delayed due to protests at the site of the opening ceremonies. In response, city officials decided to significantly change the route, causing some confusion and frustration to law enforcement personnel and the public. The change resulted in the relay bypassing San Francisco Maritime and instead passing along the edge of Fort Mason, where Golden Gate NRA headquarters are located. Officers and rangers had been monitoring the progress and had already moved into the Fort Mason area to protect park resources and assist with the crowds entering the park. The relay proceeded past Fort Mason onto Marina Boulevard and appeared to be heading towards the Presidio. Once again, law enforcement personnel were required to circumvent the crowds and set up in and around the Marina Gate of the Presidio. When the relay reached the gate, though, it veered onto the Doyle Drive ramp and stopped. All of the runners and the associated entourage then boarded transport busses and the motorcade left for the closing ceremonies, which had been moved to the airport. Rangers and USPP officers assisted in clearing vehicular and pedestrian traffic as crowds trying to follow the relay made their way onto the Presidio.

Park Police officers and protection rangers had eight goals for this incident:

provide a highly visible uniformed presence

maintain assigned security perimeters

maintain law and order, protect life and property and natural and cultural resources

manage crowds

facilitate lawful First Amendment demonstrations

deter and respond to any criminal or terrorist threat

assist other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies

facilitate vehicular and pedestrian traffic in areas of responsibility

Although extremely frustrating for law enforcement personnel, the greatest challenge was to ensure safe traffic movement, with thousands of people chasing the entourage. Despite the potential for problems, only a minimal number of arrests were made by San Francisco PD officers. Park personnel remained flexible and communicated well with each other, anticipating possible route changes and redeploying personnel as needed. [Major Jerry McCarthy, Chief Ranger Yvette Ruan]

Buffalo NR

Buffalo River Closed Due To Flooding

On the morning of Thursday, April 10th, the Buffalo River was closed to boat and recreational use from Boxley Valley at the Highway 21 bridge to the confluence with the White River due to extremely high and fast moving water, filled with debris. The closure will remain in effect until further notice. At the time of the report on Friday, the National Weather Service was predicting additional rainfall, which could potentially raise waters further. [Robert Maguire, Chief Ranger]

Colorado NM

Woman Rescued Following 40-Foot Fall

On the afternoon of April 5th, a 22-year-old woman from Grand Junction was recued after she fell approximately 40 feet from the Fallen Rock Overlook. The woman was scrambling behind the railing at the overlook when she lost her footing and fell onto a small shelf along a 200-foot cliff. Her companion witnessed the accident and called 911 on his cell phone. Rangers and several fire and rescue agencies responded to the incident. A technical raising system was used to lift the woman to the rim and she was later flown by a life flight helicopter to St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction. The woman is currently in the ICU with multiple fractures and is expected to survive. [Phil Akers, Chief Ranger]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS:

Chief Information Officer - In celebration of National Library Week, the NPS Library Program announces expanded access for NPS researchers to electronic resources available through the DOI Library website.

Servicewide - Last week, the National Parks Conservation Association issued a report, entitled America's Heritage For Sale, which focuses on development threats to privately owned land within park boundaries and the need to expend funds to acquire these tracts.

Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs - This week's update on past and upcoming hearings and the status of legislation pertinent to the National Park Service.

Risk Management Division - Louis Rowe, the safety program manager in the Risk Management Division in Washington, has accepted a promotion as the BLM bureau safety chief, effective April 26th. His new position is also in Washington.

These stories can be accessed at one of two web sites. If you are outside the National Park Service, go to NPS Digest ( HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/ ); if you are inside the National Park Service, go to InsideNPS ( HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index ).

* * * * *

Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found at the following web site:

HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363

Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).

--- ### ---