NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
INCIDENTS
Organ Pipe Cactus NM
Major Drug Seizure Made During Special Operations Training
Rangers attending the 17th session of the National Park Service's special operations course were able to utilize their training during a two day deployment to Organ Pipe Cactus NM earlier this month. On April 2nd, they seized over 600 pounds of marijuana and arrested seven people within the park. With the assistance of the NPS special agent assigned to the border parks, felony charges were filed in federal court against the seven Mexican nationals. The two week session included over 120 hours of leadership, team building, tactical tracking and firearms applications and focused on resource protection skills. This year's course was funded by Intermountain Region and included border park rangers and IMR SETT team members. Upon graduation, rangers returned to their parks equipped with the skills to undertake complex and potentially hazardous field operations while working with partner agencies to accomplish the NPS mission. [Brent McGinn, Chief Ranger, Glen Canyon NRA]
Yosemite NP
Concession Employee Pleads Guilty To Misappropriating Funds
On April 6th, B.D., a former employee of the Delaware North Company, the park's primary concessionaire, plead guilty to misappropriating over $14,000 from that company in magistrate's court in Yosemite. Through an investigation conducted by ranger Shawn Cave, the government was able to prove that B.D. engaged in a scheme to embezzle funds through the fraudulent use of gift certificates while employed as a manager from 2006 through 2009.
Using his position as a manager, B.D. obtained Delaware North Company gift certificates, intended to be used in guest services or as an incentive to his employees, and redeemed them for personal items and cash. Over the course of four years, B.D. misappropriated $14,975. In accordance with a plea agreement reached between B.D. and the government, the magistrate judge ordered B.D. to serve 60 days in custody and pay full restitution to the Delaware North Company. [Ed Dunlavey, Yosemite Law Enforcement Office]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS:
C&O Canal NHP - The park will be holding open houses this month at three lockhouses in its innovative new Canal Quarters Pilot Program. The program, launched in November 2009, offers park visitors the rare opportunity to have an overnight interpretive experience in a historic lockhouse.
Conservation and Outdoor Recreation - Outdoor Nation - a new initiative empowering young adults to reclaim, redefine and rediscover the outdoors - has launched its web platform. The NPS is a founding member of this unique public-private-nonprofit partnership.
Climate Change Response - The April 2010 issue of the Climate Change Response Program's newsletter is now available.
WASO Public Affairs - Director Jarvis has named Gerard Baker, currently superintendent at Mount Rushmore, as his Assistant Director for American Indian Relations.
Pacific West Region - Pacific West Region has conferred its 2009 George and Helen Hartzog Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service. Photo.
To see these and other stories posted on InsideNPS (or NPS Digest, its public version), click on one or the other of the following links (please note that not all stories in the former appear in the latter):
NPS employees: HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index
Non-NPS employees: HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/
NPS serious incident submission standards can be found at the following web site: HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/notify" http://inside.nps.gov/notify
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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. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).
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