NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Monday, July 8, 2013
INCIDENTS
Organ Pipe Cactus NM
Seven Arrested In Illegal Alien Smuggling Operation
Rangers recently apprehended five undocumented aliens and arrested a US citizen whose actions were consistent with a human smuggling ring operating out of California.
On Sunday, June 30th, rangers conducted an observation post operation, watching Highway 85. They saw several suspected illegal aliens get into a SUV, which was stopped by other rangers near the park's visitor center. Five women, all illegal aliens, were hidden in the back of the small SUV under some camping equipment. The rangers at the observation post pursued and arrested a seventh person, believed to be the scout who guided the five women to the meeting with the driver of the SUV.
This incident is an example of targeted enforcement based on recent trends in illegal trafficking that is part of daily operations at the park.
[Matt Northcutt, Acting HIDTA/Liaison Ranger]
Delaware Water Gap NRA
Park HAR Team Rescues Man Swept Over Waterfalls
On June 29th, park dispatch received a request from Bushkill Fire Department to undertake a technical rescue outside the park boundary in the Lehman Township Park/Saw Creek waterfall area.
A 36-year-old man who had been cliff jumping at the top of a series of three waterfalls had been swept over the top two waterfalls. He was able to reach a small shelf below a cliff that pinned him between the swift water of the flooded Saw Creek and under a 60-foot overhung cliff.
The park's high angle rescue team (HAR Team) established a technical raise and lower system to lower ranger Tim Rand to the man's location. He was placed in a harness, raised back to the relative safety of an abandoned trail, and carried to a waiting ambulance.
During this operation, the park's HAR Team included rangers from Upper Delaware and personnel from local partner agencies, including the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and Pocono Environmental Education Center. The HAR Team also partners with the New Jersey State Park Police and the New Jersey State Park Service.
IC for the incident was supervisory ranger Chris Kross; ops chief and case ranger was ranger Michelle Schonzeit.
[Michelle Schonzeit, Park Ranger]
Valley Forge NHP
Armed Man Commits Suicide In Park
On June 29th, field training ranger Duane Buck and field trainee Sharon Olson were monitoring radio traffic regarding a report of an armed, suicidal man in a neighboring township when they received a call advising them that the man was in the park. County dispatch had pinged the man's cell phone and determined that he was in the area of Varnum's Quarters.
Rangers Buck, Olson and Trevor Blasco responded to the area and found the man's unoccupied vehicle. Plans were being put into action for a search to locate him when his body was found near the Von Steuben statue. He'd died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head.
The crime scene was secured and rangers worked with local police on the follow-up investigation. The man's last contact had been by phone with his neighbor two minutes prior to rangers arriving on scene.
[Gregg Tinkham, Chief Ranger]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS. To see the full text, including images, NPS employees should go to the InsideNPS home page ( HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index). Non-NPS employees can see most of them on the NPS Digest page ( HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/):
Gettysburg NMP - Tens of thousands of visitors attended some or all of a wide array of events that took place during the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg last week, including a commemorative walk that followed the route of Pickett's Charge on the battle's last day.
Learning and Development - The Division of Learning and Development will be conducting a final beta test of a new VRP needs assessment this summer prior to the full employee rollout in September.
Conservation and Outdoor Recreation - The Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program has released two short videos to show how the NPS helps local leaders get their conservation and outdoor recreation ideas on the ground. Links are provided to each.
Legislative and Congressional Affairs - This week's update on past and upcoming hearings, newly introduced bills, and the status of legislation of interest to the National Park Service. This report covers the week ending on Friday, July 5th.
Everglades NP - Gunars Knegeris, 82, passed away during the night July 3rd. He retired from Everglades National Park as a radio and communications technician after more than 30 years of service.
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The Morning Report is a publication of the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, produced by the Office of Communications with the support of the Office of the Associate Director for Information Resources. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov).
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