Lake Mead National Recreation Area (AZ,NV)
Assault with a Dangerous Weapon
On the afternoon of April 21st, rangers received a marine band radio
report that a boater was being fired upon by a camper along the
shoreline in 8.0 Cove. The shooter was reported to be sitting inside of
the camper shell on his truck, using it as a shooting platform. Rangers
arrested L.G.W., 49. Investigation revealed that L.G.W. had
fired several shots from a BB rifle at close range, striking the boater
in the back and causing minor injury. The attack was without cause or
provocation. The rifle was recovered. The on-duty assistant U.S.
attorney approved the filing of a single count of assault with a
dangerous weapon. After case review, the United States Attorney's Office
decided to indict L.G.W. on one or more counts of assault with a dangerous
weapon.
[Submitted by Mike Blandford]
Buffalo National River (AR)
Arrest for Thefts from Canoes
About two weeks ago, rangers started receiving reports of property
being stolen from canoes at a popular spot in the Ponca Wilderness along
the Buffalo River. The only access to the area is by canoe or foot. The
victims reported that someone was taking all the contents from their
canoes while they were away from them, hiking to the nearby Hemmed In
Hollow waterfall. Paddles and life jackets were left behind. Rangers
began area searches and surveillance. On May 3rd, ranger trainee Josh
Streby, field training ranger Lee Brumbaugh, ranger Mike Smithyman,
ranger James Griffin, and a state game and fish officer apprehended
D.M.A., a 40-year-old transient. Rangers saw D.M.A. acting
suspiciously in the area where the thefts had occurred and followed him
to a makeshift shelter in the next creek drainage upriver. They found
much of the stolen property in the camp. D.M.A. was arrested and
confessed to stealing many dry bags, coolers, clothing, money, credit
cards, and other personal effects from canoes over the past two weeks.
He claimed to have been living in the park for about six weeks. D.M.A.
is currently being held in the Newton County jail on state charges of
theft of property.
[Submitted by Bob Howard, District
Ranger]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Visitor and Resource Protection
Revised/Updated Police Week Schedule Released
This year the NPS will memorialize two fallen officers from years past during Police Week:
U.S. Park Police Officer William J. Grissam, who was killed, March 20, 1932, by a hit and run driver while on bicycle patrol in Washington, D.C. and
Park Ranger Duane P. McClure who drowned, May 22, 1980, during a solo canoe patrol in Yellowstone.
The following activities are being planned to commemorate Officer McClure and Ranger Grissam in addition to our other officers who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty:
May 10
Event: Wreath Laying Memorial Ceremony with U.S. Park Police and U.S. Park Ranger Honor Guards
Time: 10:00 am
Location: MIB auditorium
Contact: SAC Pat Buccello or Major Sal Lauro
May 12
Event: Police Unity Tour Arrival and Ceremony
Time: 2:00 pm
Location: Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
Contact: MANA Chief Ranger Gil Goodrich (703) 754-1504
May 13
Event: NPS Law Enforcement Officers Reception - A social gathering of NPS Park Police and Law Enforcement Park Rangers, along with surviving family members. The Farthing Award for Excellence in DWI Enforcement will be given to a USPP officer.
Time: 2-6:00 pm
Location: USPP aircraft hanger, Anacostia
Contact: Henry Berberich (202) 205-9142 or Gil Goodrich (703) 754-8694
May 13
Event: Candlelight Vigil
Time: 8:00 pm
Location: Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
Contact: SAC Pat Buccello (202) 513-7131 or Major Sal Lauro (202) 438-1604
May 15
Event: 23rd Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service
Time: noon
Location: West Front of the United States Capitol
Contact: SAC Pat Buccello or Major Sal Lauro
Uniform of the day for these solemn ceremonies will be full winter service uniform. Duty belts are optional for off duty officers and rangers who are in travel status.
More information may be obtained through the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Foundation website www.nleomf.org.
For additional info, contact either Major Sal Lauro (202) 438-1604 or SAC Pat Buccello (202) 513-7131).
[Submitted by Pat Buccello, Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Grand Teton National Park (WY)
Passing of Legendary Ranger Doug McLaren
Grand Teton National Park staff and numerous park partners were deeply saddened to hear that long-time ranger Doug McLaren passed away, May 2, 2004, after struggling with failing health.
Doug dedicated 40 years of his professional life to the National Park Service — 35 of those years were spent as a Grand Teton National Park ranger. In 1952, he began working as a mountaineering ranger at Grand Teton and retired in 1987 after serving as the park's north district ranger.
After officially retiring from federal service, Doug took only one weekend off before returning the following Monday morning to begin work as a volunteer at Grand Teton's vehicle maintenance shop in Moose. For the past 16 years, he generously donated his time each day at the auto shop.
Doug McLaren began his NPS career in 1942 as a seasonal fire guard at Rocky Mountain National Park. He also worked as a winter snowplow operator and a member of the trail crew before joining the army in 1943. He spent two and a half years during World War II with the 10th Mountain Division stationed in Italy and later worked as an instructor of civilian survival for the Strategic Air Command, where he taught climbing and ground survival skills to air crews.
Doug took his first permanent NPS assignment in 1952 as a climbing ranger at Grand Teton and worked in several ranger positions until his final post as north district ranger. For 15 years, he was in charge of rescue operations for the Jenny Lake Subdistrict at Grand Teton. He established a mountaineering register system and co-authored "Mountain Search and Rescue Operations," a guide for search and rescue techniques that was implemented servicewide in many national parks. Over the years, he was involved in hundreds of mountain rescues, including the largest rescue mission in the annals of American mountaineering. This historic three-day rescue occurred in July 1962 and involved ten climbers from the Appalachian Mountain Club who were caught in a vigorous winter-like storm on the Grand Teton.
Doug's expertise, training and experience in the field of mountain search and rescue earned him numerous NPS special achievement awards. He received six departmental Unit Awards for Excellence of Service and both the Department of the Interior Meritorious Service Award and Superior Service Award.
In 1953, Doug began working as a National Ski Patrol volunteer at Snow King Mountain. He became an integral member of the volunteer team, donating his time and expertise toward avalanche control and rescue operations on the ski slopes. In 1987, he was voted the National Ski Patroller of the Year for the United States, which includes approximately 20,000 patrollers.
Doug McLaren came from a family tradition of service in the national parks. His father, Fred Douglas McLaren, Sr., served for 37 years as a ranger in Rocky Mountain National Park. Both of his brothers also enjoyed lengthy careers with the NPS; Richard (Dick) over 30 years at Olympic, Yosemite and Grand Canyon, and Elbert (Bert) over 30 years at Yellowstone and Rocky Mountain. Collectively, the McLarens have contributed approximately 150 years of time and dedication to the National Park Service.
Memorial donations in Doug McLaren's name may be sent to the Snow King Volunteer Ski Patrol at P.O. Box 1114, Jackson, Wyoming 83001, or donations may be made to the Senior Center of Jackson Hole at P.O. Box 4677, Jackson, Wyoming 83001. Cards and condolences may be mailed to Doug's daughter Sharon Wiley at P.O. Box 422, Wilson, Wyoming 83014.[Submitted by Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs]
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.