RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Thursday, April 11, 1991
INCIDENTS
90-239 - Gulf Islands (Mississippi/Florida) - Followup on Homicide
On the morning of August 4, 1990, campers on Santa Rosa Island
discovered the body of B.D.R., 34, of Pensacola,
Florida, just off a trail behind Battery Langdon. An
investigation was begun by the Escambia County sheriff's office,
the FBI and park rangers. The prime suspect was J.M.W.,
28, also of Pensacola, who was B.D.R.'s boyfriend.
J.M.W. was apprehended that night while attempting to cash a
check issued to the victim; he was also driving B.D.R.'s car.
He was charged with homicide. On Monday, April 8th, J.M.W.
pleaded no contest to charges of armed robbery and second-degree
murder and was sentenced to 25 years in prison on both counts,
with terms to be served concurrently. [CompuServe message from
Gene Phillips, CR, GUIS, 4/10]
91-106 - Everglades (Florida) - Demonstration
Greenpeace supporters concluded a two-day-long march through the
park along the main road from Flamingo To Miami on April 9th.
Some 30 demonstrators participated in the march, which was
conducted to focus attention on new garbage incinerators in
south Florida which allegedly discharge mercury and other toxic
metals into the air. These emissions reputedly poison the water
which flows through the park. The group was peaceful and
cooperated fully with National Park Service conditions.
[Telefax from Mark Lewis, LES, EVER, 4/9]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No reports today.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
1) The following memorandum was prepared by Mario Fraire, Chief
Personnel Officer in WASO, and sent to all regional and park
personnel officers and all regional chief rangers. THE DUE DATE
FOR REPLIES IS APRIL 23RD:
"The Federal Register notice provided below requires your
immediate attention. As you know, the Office of Personnel
Management is required by the Federal Pay Reform Act to provide
in writing by January, 1993, to Congress, a legislative proposal
for a new classification and pay system dealing with protective
services occupations. The request for comments has come out a
lot sooner than anticipated with a very short deadline. To
develop a Park Service position, please provide us your comments
not later than the due date. Please use whatever means are the
most expeditious to get your comments to us. Your comments
should be sent to me or John Mussare in the Personnel Division
or Tony Sisto in Ranger Activities." The Federal Register
notice follows:
* * * * * *
Federal Law Enforcement and Protective Occupations
AGENCY: U.S. Office of Personnel Management
ACTION: Notice of opportunity to file comments.
SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) invites all
Federal agencies, labor unions and other employee organizations
and interested persons to submit written comments and
recommendations on the procedures to be employed and the issues
to be addressed by OPM in considering the establishment of a
special position classification and pay system (or systems) for
law enforcement and protective occupations in the Federal
Government.
DATES: Comments and recommendations in response to this notice
will be considered if received by April 26, 1991. Requests for
extension of time will not be granted, absent extraordinary
circumstances.
ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver comments or recommendations to
Barbara L. Fiss, Assistant Director for Pay and Performance
Management Programs, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 1900 E
Street, NW, Room 7H30, Washington, DC 20415.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title IV of the Federal Employees Pay
Comparability Act of 1990 (FEPCA), Public Law 101509, November 5,
1990, provides in section 412 that no later than January 1, 1993,
OPM, in consultation with law enforcement agencies and law
enforcement employee groups, shall submit to Congress, in
writing, a plan to establish a separate pay and classification
system for law enforcement officers and specifications for
legislation to implement such a plan. Concurrently, under 5
U.S.C. 5392, as amended by FEPCA, OPM is considering whether to
recommend to the President's Pay Agent the establishment of a
special occupational pay system for protective occupations (e.g.,
Federal firefighters, police, and guards).
OPM is currently preparing plans for conducting these studies
and invites comments and recommendations addressing any matters
relating to procedures for carrying out the study, the
occupational coverage, or any other pertinent issues. OPM is
particularly interested in receiving any comments on the
following questions:
* What do you consider the most serious classification and pay
problems which must be addressed in these studies? Please be as
specific as possible.
* Which occupations in the Federal Government should be grouped
within the definitions of "law enforcement" or "protective"
occupational series for purposes of these studies?
* Is the current classification system adequate for evaluating
law enforcement and protective occupations?
* To what extent, if at all, are law enforcement classification
and pay systems used in local and State governments transferable
to the Federal Government?
* What procedures or mechanisms should OPM employ to promote
effective consultation with Federal agencies, unions, and other
employee organizations in conducting these studies?
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.
Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Henry on SL (indefinite);
Halainen on detail to House Subcommittee on National Parks and
Public Lands (3/8-4/26); Marriott at PNR chief rangers' conference
(4/8-4/12); Martin at WR chief rangers' conference, Phoenix, AZ (4/9-4/17).
Branch of Fire: Farrel on site visit to GRCA, at WR chief
rangers' conference in Scottsdale, AZ, and at training session at NARTC,
Marana, AZ (4/10-4/19); Gale and Clark at Yosemite fire review, WRO, San
Francisco, CA (4/9-4/11).
Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities
Telephone: FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039
Telefax: FTS 268-5977 or 202-208-5977
CompuServe: WASO-RANGER (Branch of R&VP); WASO-FIRE-WO (Branch of Fire)
SEAdog: 1/650