Great Sand Dunes National Monument & Preserve (CO)
Conviction for Conducting Illegal Events in Park
In October, 1999, and again in October, 2000, A.B., an
organizer of extreme sports events, was issued violation notices for
conducting business operations within the park and for failing to obtain
a permit prior to conducting an event within the park. Previously,
A.B. had requested permission to conduct an annual "Tabasco Extreme
Heat 5K Desert Snowshoe Race" within a designated wilderness area in the
dune field. Because the event was determined to be inconsistent with NPS
regulations and policies pertaining to wilderness management, the
request was denied. In defiance of NPS warnings, A.B. proceeded to
conduct the event in 1999 and 2000 and was issued the violation notices.
After two years of court postponements and legal wrangling, a jury trial
(unusual for petty offenses) was conducted in November, 2002, and
A.B. was convicted on all four counts. On March 20th, the judge in
the case fined A.B. $1,000 on each count for a total of $4,000.
A.B., a Canadian citizen who has overstayed his visa, was also
scheduled for an INS hearing in January, but that has been postponed
until June.
[Submitted by Jim Bowman, Chief Ranger]
Independence National Historical Park (PA)
Anti-War Protest
On March 30th, approximately 50 organized groups totaling around
3,000 anti-war protestors gathered near the Delaware River and marched
through part of downtown, ending in front of the Liberty Bell and
Federal Courthouse. Many demonstrators were talking about rushing the
Liberty Bell. The Liberty Bell was closed and a contingent of NPS
protection rangers held a position between the Market Street barricade
and the Liberty Bell Pavilion. With the assistance of Philadelphia
Police Department, including bike and mounted patrol officers, the
protestors were dissipated and no incidents occurred.
[Submitted by
Katherine Korte, Law Enforcement Specialist]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Situation Report - April 3, 2003
Preparedness Level 2
Initial attack was light to moderate on Wednesday, with nearly 200 new fires reported. There were ten new large fires. Once more, most of them were in Oklahoma and have been largely contained. A 500-acre fire was also reported in Black Hills NF in South Dakota; at the time of the report, it had burned 500 acres and was 40% contained.
Three Type 1 teams and two Type 2 teams are currently committed to the Columbia Response recovery effort. Bennett's Type 1 team has replaced Anderson's team.
Fire Danger
| State |
3/26 |
3/27 |
3/28 |
3/31 |
4/1 |
4/2 |
4/3 |
| Colorado |
-- |
VH |
VH |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Illinois |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
EX |
-- |
| Indiana |
-- |
VH |
VH |
-- |
-- |
VH |
VH |
| Kentucky |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VH |
VH |
| Missouri |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VH |
VH |
VH |
| Oklahoma |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VH |
VH |
VH — Very high EX — Extreme
National Resource Commitments
| Day |
3/26 |
3/27 |
3/28 |
3/31 |
4/1 |
4/2 |
4/3 |
| Crews |
176 |
160 |
161 |
160 |
176 |
167 |
177 |
| Engines |
68 |
59 |
37 |
15 |
49 |
42 |
77 |
| Helicopters |
4 |
6 |
3 |
1 |
7 |
6 |
4 |
| Air Tankers |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Overhead |
2,147 |
2,241 |
2,618 |
2,594 |
2,572 |
2,581 |
2,143 |
National Team Commitments
| State |
Type Team |
Team IC |
Incident/Fire |
Acres |
Percent Contain |
Est Full Contain |
| TX |
T1 |
Studebaker |
Columbia Response |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| TX |
T1 |
Bennett |
" |
" |
" |
" |
| TX |
T1 |
Gelobter |
" |
" |
" |
" |
| TX |
T2 |
Houseman |
" |
" |
" |
" |
| TX |
T2 |
Gray |
" |
" |
" |
" |
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Visitor and Resource Protection
Acting Servicewide Security Manager Named
Captain Michael Calidonna of the United States Air Force's Research Laboratory at Tyndall AFB in Florida has been detailed to the National Park Service to serve as the agency's Servicewide security manager, effective immediately. He will continue in that capacity until July 4th, during which period the NPS will advertise and select a permanent security manager. That announcement will be out shortly. Capt. Calidonna will be based at the new NPS office at Eye Street in Washington; his phone numbers are 202-513-7124 and 202-565-1020. His duties include providing guidance to field areas on physical security issues and assisting the agency in the development of a Servicewide security program.
[Submitted by Karen Taylor-Goodrich]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Manassas National Battlefield Park (VA)
Ranger Bicycles in Police Unity Tour Commemorating Fallen Officers
Since 1927, 31 National Park Service law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty. Tragically, two NPS rangers — Kris Eggle and Tom O'Hara — and one U.S. Park Police officer — Hakim Farthing — lost their lives in the performance of their duties in 2002. In their memory, ranger Gil Goodrich of Manassas NBP will be representing the National Park Service in the 2003 Police Unity Tour.
The Police Unity Tour is a multi-day memorial event involving over 400 local, state, and federal law enforcement officers bicycling from different areas of the country, all arriving together at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., on May 12, 2003.
On the following evening, tour participants will represent their respective agencies at the memorial's annual candlelight vigil, during which the names of all officers killed in the line of duty in 2002 will be read and added to the memorial. As a member of the Virginia Chapter of the Police Unity Tour, Goodrich will ride over 250 miles in three days from Chesapeake, Virginia, to Washington, D.C., along with 100 fellow officers representing 28 agencies.
The purposes of the Police Unity Tour are to:
- Raise donations for and awareness of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
- Honor the service and sacrifices of America's law enforcement officers.
- Provide assistance and support to family members of officers killed in the line of duty.
- Encourage and increase physical fitness of law enforcement officers.
- Increase communication among law enforcement agencies.
- Promote bicycle safety education and training n the community.
Since the inception of the Police Unity Tour in 1997, participants have raised over $530,000 in donations for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial making the Tour the largest private or corporate sponsor of the Memorial.
Additional information regarding the Police Unity Tour and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial can be found at www.policeunitytour.org.
For information regarding rider sponsorship donations, please contact Gil Goodrich via email.
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.