Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine (MD)
Follow-up on Water Taxi Accident
Baltimore Fire Department crews recovered the body of the third - and
last - passenger missing since a water taxi capsized in the Potapsco
River after departing from Fort McHenry on the afternoon of March 6th.
The body of C.J.S., 26, of Alexandria, Virginia, was
recovered around 3:30 p.m. on March 15th. The park is expected to resume
normal operations as the incident base next door is dismantled and the
media finishes its followup interviews.
[Submitted by Charlie
Strickfaden, Chief Ranger]
Yellowstone National Park (ID,MT,WY)
Two Sentenced in Elk Poaching Case
On March 3rd, J.L.C. and D.G.C. were
sentenced in magistrate's court after each was convicted on three
violations of illegally transporting wildlife (16 USC 3372) and one of
illegal use of a firearm in the park (36 CFR 2.4). The magistrate
ordered them to jointly pay a total of $19,025 in fines and restitution,
sentenced each of them to 180-day suspended jail sentences, and banned
them from entering the park for three years. He also ordered them to
forfeit the two rifles used in the offenses, and to forfeit their state
hunting and fishing licenses and privileges for two years. These
sentences and convictions were the result of an anti-poaching operation
conducted by rangers last October, during which rangers Keith Crandell
and Richard Jones discovering that three elk had been killed and moved
while inside the park. Special agent Chris Fors was the case agent, but
the extensive operation and investigation involved over ten rangers, US
Fish and Wildlife special agents, and US Forest Service law enforcement
officers.
[Submitted by Brian Smith, Supervisory Special
Agent]
Montezuma Castle National Monument (AZ)
Falling Fatality
At about noon on March 11th, C.K., 64, of Conrad, Montana, was
at the main overlook of Montezuma Well, a detached unit of Montezuma
Castle National Monument, when she walked past the safety railing, lost
her balance, and fell approximately 60 feet to the base of a cliff
inside the well. Ranger Rex Vanderford, other park staff, and
members of Montezuma-Rimrock Fire Department responded. C.K.
received initial treatment for severe head and upper body trauma at the
scene and was later flown by medical evacuation helicopter to Verde
Valley Medical Center. She did not survive.
[Submitted by Karen
Hughes, Acting Chief Ranger]
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (PA)
Suicide at Resort Point Overlook
The body of a 44-year-old woman was found in her car at the Resort
Point Overlook on February 19th. Four different types of prescription
medications and a hand written note that included names and numbers were
found in the vehicle. This was the second suicide within a month in the
same general area of the park.
[Submitted by Chris A. Kross,
Supervisory Park Ranger]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (PA)
Colt Armorers School
There are still two openings for the Colt Armorer's School at Delaware Water Gap NRA, which will be held in Bushkill, Pennsylvania, between March 30th and April 1st.
Those attending will be provided with a complete understanding of the design theory, nomenclature, dynamics, compatibility, interchangeability, detailed disassembly, assembly, maintenance and troubleshooting of the M-16/AR-15 family of weapons and certified for three years as a model-specific Colt law enforcement armorer. The course if for LE personnel only. The cost is $375.
If you're interested, contact ranger Mike Zirwas at 570-588-2436.
[Submitted by Mike Zirwas]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
United States Park Police
Assistant Chief Ben Holmes To Retire
Benjamin J. Holmes, Jr., who has been the Assistant Chief of the United States Park Police for almost two years, he will retire on March 20th after an illustrious career.
As the second ranking official of the Force, he has assisted and supported the Chief of Police in carrying out the management responsibilities of the Force and assumed the responsibility of the Chief in her absence. He directly supervised and coordinated the activities of the Deputy Chiefs assigned as Commanders of the Operations, Services and Field Offices Divisions. Acting Chief Holmes said, "I am very proud to have served in a long and fulfilling career with the U.S. Park Police, which enjoys a well-deserved reputation as one of the most outstanding law enforcement organizations in the Nation. I leave the organization after all of these years to accept a new challenge and an employment opportunity, which I could not pass up at this time."
Assistant Chief Holmes' law enforcement career spans over 33 years and includes operational, managerial and administrative experience. He began his U. S. Park Police career in December 1970 as a patrol officer covering foot, cruiser, scooter and motorcycle beats. Upon promotion to Sergeant in December 1977, he was assigned as a patrol supervisor and later served as a motorcycle mounted supervisor. Promoted to Lieutenant in April 1980, he served as a Shift Commander until he was promoted to the rank of Captain in April 1984. He was assigned to the NPS Pacific Northwest Region Office in Seattle, Washington, where he served as Regional Law Enforcement Specialist. After 2 ½ years, he returned to Washington, DC, where he held positions as Commander, Audits and Evaluations Unit, Commander, Central District and Commander, Personnel Services Unit. Upon promotion to Major in February 1992, he was assigned as the Commander, Criminal Investigations Branch. He was reassigned in May 1997 to serve as the Law Enforcement Specialist, WASO and held this position until his promotion to Deputy Chief in August 1997.
As a Deputy Chief he was initially assigned as the Commander, Field Offices Division. This position has oversight of Force units and personnel assigned outside of the Washington, DC metropolitan area (New York Field Office, San Francisco Field Office, Law Enforcement Specialist, National Park Service (NPS) Washington Office (WASO) and NPS Regional Law Enforcement Specialists). In March 2000, he was reassigned to the position of Commander, Services Division where he had oversight of the Administrative, Technical Services and Training Branches of the Force. He served in this position until he was promoted to the rank of Assistant Chief in April 2002.
Assistant Chief Holmes has completed courses at Strayer College and American University and he is a graduate of the 147th Session of the FBI National Academy.
He is married to Charlene S. Holmes and they reside in Mitchellville, Maryland. They have a blended family of six children, Tonya, Christopher, Rhonda, Berch, Anthony and Erin; and three grandchildren.
Crater Lake National Park (OR)
GS-401-7/9/11 FMO or GS-462-7 Supervisory Forestry Tech
Dates: 03/15/2004 - 04/15/2004
Crater Lake National Park is seeking a highly motivated, team-oriented person to fill our vacant Fire Management Officer position. This position is being advertised as both a GS-401-7/9/11 Fire Management Officer and a GS-462-7 Supervisory Forestry Technician, to create a career development ladder to the GS-11 level. It is an ideal opportunity for applicants with strong backgrounds in fire suppression and prescribed fire operations to make the transition to a fire management career track. The Crater Lake fire management program includes wildland fire suppression, wildland fire use, prescribed burning and fuels management. In 2005, the park will implement a new fire management plan, with a strong emphasis on restoring the natural role of fire to the park ecosystem. This position will provide opportunities in fire operations, fuels project management, supervision, budget and fire planning. Applicants must be able to obtain an arduous duty interagency firefighter red card, which includes meeting mandatory medical standards. Special firefighter retirement coverage is either approved, or has been submitted for approval, for all series and grades described in this announcement, under the firefighter retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 836 and 5 U.S.C. 8401. The vacancy announcement can be found on USA Jobs, and will close on April 15. For more information, contact David Brennan, Chief of Resource & Visitor Protection, at 541-594-3051 or David_Brennan@nps.gov[Submitted by Dave Brennan, David_Brennan@nps.gov, (541)594-3051]
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.