Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Follow-up on Murder of Ranger Joe Kolodski
An appeal by J.L. to have his conviction for the murder of
ranger Joe Kolodski overturned has been denied by the Fourth Circuit
Court of Appeals. On June 21,
1998, Kolodski, who was a ranger at Great Smokies, responded to a report
of a suspicious person carrying a gun and harassing visitors in the Big
Witch Gap area of Blue Ridge Parkway. While Kolodski was securing the
incident scene, he was shot and killed by J.L., who fired on him with
a high-powered rifle from a concealed location. J.L. also shot at
ranger Tony Welch, who was not hit. J.L. was captured several hours
later. In January, 1999, J.L. was convicted of the first degree murder
of Kolodski and the attempted murder of Welch. He has been trying to
have the convictions overturned ever since. J.L.'s case was heard by
the appellate court last December. His appeal was based on a number of
points, all of which he believed warranted a new trial. On April 26th,
the court affirmed the convictions. J.L. will continue to serve a life
sentence in federal prison in Florida. The court's opinion can be read
by clicking on "More Information" below.
[Submitted by John Mattox,
Special Agent] More
Information...
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (WA)
Employee Injured in MVA with Train
Seasonal maintenance worker Josie Jensen was injured on April 28th when a train struck the DOI pickup truck that she was driving. The accident occurred off park property. The train was traveling at 25 mph when it hit the truck, pushing/throwing it about 120 feet. Josie was wearing her seatbelt and suffered only minor bruises. She was treated at the hospital and released. The county sheriff's office is handling the investigation; NTSB is looking into it as well.
[Submitted by Jerry McCarthy]
National Capital Parks-East (DC)
Drug Arrests
Officers Scott Brecht and Eduardo Delgado were on patrol near the Fort Dupont ice skating rink at 3:20 a.m. on April 25th when they came upon a parked van with two men asleep in the driver's compartment. One door was slightly ajar and the odor of marijuana emanated from the van. The officers woke the two men, had them step out of the vehicle, then conducted a search of the van. They soon found a baggy of suspected marijuana, then a 24.5 ounce can of Big Puncture Seal tire repair fluid that turned out to have a false bottom. Inside were 346 small green ziplock bags with rocks of crack cocaine inside. Field tests were positive for cocaine base. Both men were arrested for possession with intent to distribute.
[Submitted by Commander, Planning and Development, US Park Police]
George Washington Carver National Monument (MO)
Attempted Sexual Assault of a Minor
On Monday, April 26th, officers from the Newton County SD and Diamond
City PD conducted a joint undercover operation to identify and arrest a
man who had made arrangements to meet and engage in sex with a
13-year-old girl in the park. He'd made the arrangements on the
Internet, selecting the park as the location for them to meet. The man
was found, identified and arrested. Investigation and prosecution are
being handled by those two agencies.
[Submitted by Scott J.
Bentley, Superintendent]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Gulf Islands National Seashore (FL,MS)
GS-025-9 Protection Ranger
The park is currently advertising for a GS-025-9 protection ranger. The position is open to current career and career conditional employees within the Department of Interior and CTAP eligibles only.
This position is located in the park's Mississippi District, with a duty station at Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Ocean Springs sits along the Gulf of Mexico near Biloxi. The person selected will be required to reside in government quarters on Horn Island, and required to remain on the island during the work week, unless otherwise scheduled. Access to the mainland is by boat only.
The announcement number for this position is GUIS 04-04, and can be viewed at www.usajobs.opm.gov. Interested applicants may also call our Personnel Jobline at 850-934-2601. The position opened April 22nd and closes May 5th.
[Submitted by Ed Flores]
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.