National Capital Parks
Carjacking, Assault on USPP Officers
On the evening of January 8th, a woman who had just gotten into her
2001 Mercedes S430 at White Flint Mall in Maryland was grabbed by a man
who dragged her to the ground, threatened to kill her, and demanded her
car keys. The woman threw her keys at him and fled. Police were notified
and a description of the vehicle was broadcast throughout the area. The
car was equipped with Tele Aid, a communications and navigation system
which was employed to assist police in tracking it. Park Police officer
John Cox located the Mercedes in southeast Washington and stopped it.
Cox ordered the driver out at gunpoint, but he instead hit Cox with the
car. Cox sustained only minor injuries and was able to pursue. A Park
Police helicopter responded and assisted in keeping tabs on the vehicle.
During the chase, several cars, including one driven by USPP officer
Cory Houghton, were hit by the Mercedes. Houghton sustained minor
injuries. The car finally stopped after a tire blew out; the driver
bailed out, but was caught by a Prince George County PD officer and USPP
officer Sheldon Thorpe. D.F., 34, was arrested and charged
with carjacking, auto theft, theft over $500, unauthorized use of a
motor vehicle, and second-degree assault. He's currently being held
without bond.
[Submitted by Sgt. Scott Fear, Public Information
Officer]
National Capital Parks-Central (DC)
Arrest of Fleeing Felon
On January 5th, a Metropolitan Police Department officer stopped a
vehicle near I-395 and the northbound ramp to Maine Avenue. The vehicle
had been taken by stealth the previous day when the operator left the
keys in the vehicle while paying for fuel. The two occupants bailed out
of the vehicle and ran across the railroad tracks into the wood line
near National Capital Parks-Central buildings, with one reaching into
his waistband. MPD asked for assistance from the Park Police, and
several responded. K-9 officer Jerre Psak and her partner, "Malu,"
searched the area, and "Malu" found one of the suspects on NPS property
near the fence bordering the buildings. He was arrested, turned over to
MPD, and charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. A computer
check revealed that he was also wanted for felonious assault in
Alexandria, Virginia. His companion was never found.
[Submitted by
Sgt. Scott Fear, Public Information Officer]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
NPS Office at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
Clarification of TSA Policies on Flying with Weapon
Questions have arisen regarding Wednesday's reminder on transporting firearms in checked baggage. By TSA policy, locks are required on baggage containing firearms, but baggage must permit TSA inspection. The simple and safest way to allow this is with through a TSA-accepted lock. TSA maintains a "master key" to quickly open these locks, which are otherwise secure. More information, including manufacturers, can be located at www.travelsentry.org. Multiple vendors can be found through internet searches for "TSA approved locks." Prices generally begin in the $8 to $10 range for individual locks. Some new suitcases are being manufactured with built-in locks that meet the TSA standard.
[Submitted by Greg Jackson, Lead Instructor]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (IN)
GS-025-7/9 Protection Ranger
The park has an opening for a GS-7/9 protection ranger. The merit promotion announcement opened on January 15th and closes on February 12th. Indiana Dunes NL is located at the southern tip of Lake Michigan approximately 50 to 60 miles southeast of Chicago. The park is surrounded by small towns and resort communities on the beaches of Lake Michigan and farms interspersed with large tracts of woodlands and wetlands. An abundance of cultural and recreational activities are available year-round. No government housing is available; however, many reasonably priced houses and rental properties exist in the surrounding communities. All services are available. The park offers exceptional educational opportunities, with a number of major universities within an hour's drive, and, for those with children, an excellent school system. The park has a twenty-four hour dispatch center; law enforcement activities include a full range of criminal and resource-related incidents typically encountered in an urban/wilderness interface. When fully staffed, the division includes ten permanent and two intermittent commissioned field personnel. Jurisdiction is concurrent, commissioned rangers are deputized through the county, and work with 10+ local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Law enforcement personnel have delegated collateral duty assignments, including DARE, waterfront operations, and fee programs. OPM has also posted an announcement for the same job at the GS-7 level, open to all sources (CK185429YR). For the all sources application process, you must read all the way through the announcement on www.usajobs.opm.gov and follow the directions to apply on-line. If you have any questions, please contact Terry Martin at 219-926-7561 extension 441. Interested rangers should contact supervisory ranger Larry Edwards at 219-926-7561, extension 314, or chief ranger J.D. Swed at extension 301.
Bandelier National Monument (NM)
Supervisory Fire Management Officer
Dates: 12/29/2004 - 01/23/2004
STATEMENT OF DUTIES:
Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Superintendent, incumbent serves as Fire Management Officer for Bandelier National Monument-Los Alamos, NM. Manages and implements wildland fire management, prescribed fire, urban interface and aviation operations. Is responsible for development, planning, integration and application of fire science methods and practices in the Monument's fire program. Supervises a permanent staff of (1) Fire Management Specialist, GS-11, (1) Fire Program Assistant, GS-06, (2) Supervisory Forestry Technicians, GS-07, (1) Forestry Technician (Helitak) and (1) Supervisory Fire Effects Specialist, GS-09. Directs and coordinates staff specialists in all wildland fire management, prescribed fire management, fire aviation operations and fire support dispatching activities. Develops long term plans for wildland fire management and fire suppression. Will serve in fire interagency committees and consultant for other Parks within the Pueblo Parks Group.
For details please see http://www.usajobs.opm.gov
[Submitted by HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE, 505/672-3861, EXT. 506]
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.