NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Monday, January 28, 2008
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INCIDENTS
Martin Luther King, Jr. NHS
Special Event: King Week 2008
The park and The King Center conducted a series of events celebrating the 22nd national holiday and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 79th birthday between January 12th and 21st. A total of eight events were held over the nine-day period. This year's major events were held in the ‘new” Ebenezer Baptist Church. The historic church is closed while undergoing the final phase of a restoration. Participants in the week's events included presidential candidates Senator Barack Obama and Governor Mike Huckabee and former President Bill Clinton. The National March, sponsored by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), was the largest of the events, drawing thousands of visitors to the park. Rangers from Martin Luther King, Jr. NHS, Kennesaw Mountain NBP, Horseshoe Bend NMP, Chickamauga & Chattanooga NMP and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), provided security on park land during the events, which were conducted without incident. [Clark W. Moore, Chief Ranger]
National Mall
Officers Rescue Woman Injured During Demonstration
On Tuesday, January 22nd, a large group of demonstrators rallied on the National Mall, then marched from the Mall to the Supreme Court. During the rally, one of the organizers on stage fell and struck her head. Members of the Park Police SWAT team detailed to the event were on hand near the stage. Sergeant John Dillon provided immediate critical care to the 82-year-old woman, who had suffered a head injury in the fall. Lieutenant Philip Beck and officers Greg Gilbert, Rufus Gillette, Mark Adamchik, Mike Ocetnik and Robert Zarger assisted, and eventually the SWAT team helped carry the injured woman to an ambulance for transport to a local hospital. Due to the large numbers of people in the streets, Park Police horse mounted units had to open a route through the crowd for the ambulance to and from the stage. The woman is expected to recover due to the fast, professional response of the Park Police officers. The remainder of the march continued without further incident. [Sergeant Robert Lachance, Public Affairs Officer]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS (internal) or NPS Digest (external):
Office of International Affairs - The new U.S. World Heritage Tentative List includes six NPS areas. These sites will now be eligible to be considered for nomination by the United States to the UNESCO World Heritage List, which recognizes the most significant cultural and natural treasures on the planet.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6168" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6168
Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs - This week's update on past and upcoming hearings and the status of legislation pertinent to the National Park Service.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6169" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6169
Environmental Quality Division - After a brilliant and illustrious 37-year career with the federal government, 27 of those with the National Park Service, the Environmental Quality Division bids a bittersweet farewell to Debby Peck.
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1813" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1813
Canaveral NS - Vince DiDio, the facility manager at Canaveral National Seashore, is retiring from the National Park Service on February 3rd following 29 years of federal service. Photo.
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1807" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1807
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Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).
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