NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Friday, November 7, 2008
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INCIDENTS
Colonial NHP
Ranger Injured In Shotgun Explosion
Ranger Ken Doak was injured during semi-annual firearms qualification at the Coast Guard Training Center range in Yorktown on November 4th when the barrel of his NPS-issued Remington 870 shotgun exploded. Doak suffered a laceration to his left hand, which was on the wood forearm of the pump-action shotgun. Qualification with shotguns had just started and Doak was attempting to fire his first round when the incident occurred. The firing line was immediately made safe and all weapons checked and made safe. Doak's injury was treated by other rangers. His shotgun had been checked by the range officer prior to qualifications, including a check of the barrel for obstructions. The round being used at the time was a Remington Disintegrator 00 buckshot round, two-and-three-quarter-inch length, purchased from FLETC's list of approved lead-free frangible rounds. The Coast Guard range officer was contacted and responded along with an armorer. They inspected the barrel of the weapon along with firearms instructor Larry Smith and chief ranger Tom Nash. The inspection revealed that buckshot pellets appeared to be fused together in the barrel, creating an obstruction just forward of the ejection port. As a result, the gases expanded in the barrel, causing it to explode. The target had a small tear in it where the front plastic covering of the shell had evidently hit it. The tear was not from the wadding in the shell. Doak received several stitches from a doctor to close the wound. A follow-up investigation will be coordinated with FLETC to determine the exact cause. The Remington had been purchased in 1991. [Tom Nash, Chief Ranger]
Rock Creek Park
Two Women Assaulted In Park
Park Police officers were dispatched to a report of a sexual assault near Grove 19 in the early hours of Saturday, November 1st. Two women there reported that they'd been picked up by three men in their late 20s near Columbia Road and were promised a ride to Chinatown. They were instead taken to the park. When they got there, the women fled, but were caught. The men were in the process of attempting to rape them when they were scared off, possibly by sirens in the area, and drove off in an unknown direction. The women used a cell phone to call 911, but were not able to tell the dispatcher where they were located. Park Police and Metro PD officers were searching for them when they called again around 3:30 a.m. and were subsequently found near the grove. USPP Criminal Investigation Branch detectives are investigating. [Sgt. Robert Lachance]
OTHER NEWS
Among the stories in today's edition are the following:
Servicewide - Next Tuesday is Veteran's Day, a time when Americans honor the sacrifices made by its veterans. On that day, all military personnel, past and present, will receive free admittance to the parks, as will members of their families.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7066" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7066
Gateway NRA - With the sound of a starter's cannon echoing throughout Fort Wadsworth, Gateway NRA hosted the start of the 2008 New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 2nd.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7068" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7068
Capitol Reef NP - Capitol Reef National Park, in conjunction with Utah Valley University, held a public dedication and open house at the recently completed Capitol Reef Field Station on October 16th.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7069" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7069
Training Calendar - A listing of upcoming training courses offered by the NPS and its partners across the nation. Added today are ten new TEL station courses that will be offered on a variety of topics between now and February.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Conferences&id=775" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Conferences&id=775
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Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found at the following web site:
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363
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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