The Retired U. S. Park Police Association "Discussions, Thoughts, and News"

NPS Defends Actions/Arsenic at Fort Reno

CMS — Thur, 15 May 2008 10:09:26 GMT

The National Park Service was fending off uncomfortable questions Wednesday after it waited 14 hours to tell the public that one of Northwests most popular parks was potentially tainted with poison.

The Park Service and U.S. Park Police swooped into Fort Reno Park early Wednesday, moving out pedestrians and throwing up storm fences. Officials said satellite pictures from the U.S. Geological Survey revealed pockets of arsenic on the ground that were nearly twice federal safety standards.

Follow this link for article

Forum: Bulletins and Discussions

SICK CALL

mclane — Thur, 08 May 2008 16:53:49 GMT

On Wednesday, May 7, doctors successfully performed a surgical procedure (TURBT) on Curtis to remove a cancerous mass from his bladder. Mathea hopes to bring Curtis home from the hospital this afternoon. I am certain that Curtis would enjoy receiving cards and letters of encouragement from his friends. Curtis is expected to be home for the next several days during his recovery period. Let us all remember Curtis in our prayers.

May God Bless You Curtis. We are all wishing you a complete and speedy recovery.

Charles

Forum: Bulletins and Discussions

Sick CAll

CMS — Wed, 07 May 2008 11:30:25 GMT

Robert J. (Bob) Amon is gravely ill, apparently in the final stages of Multiple Sclerosis. Bob is a former USPP Officer who served nearly five years in the Washington area and SFFO during the mid-1970's, and later served as a civilian supervisor of Dispatch and Records @Lake Mead NRA.

Bob's wife Patricia also served with the Force.

Your Prayers and Thoughts are appreciated.

RUSPPA Members have received e-mail with contact information

Forum: Bulletins and Discussions

Guns in Parks Proposed Regulation

CMS — Thur, 01 May 2008 09:49:16 GMT

The following is provided for your information concerning the new Guns in the Parks bill/review. This is the response by the Coalition of NPS Retirees. The RUSPPA is not responding to the request for comments as an Association but we encourage each member to voice/write their own opinion

Curt

The proposed new regulation pertaining to guns in parks (and wildlife refuges) was released today. It can be accessed at: http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&o=090000648053d422

Yesterday, we released the following statement pertaining to the proposed regulation:

CNPSR Executive Council Chair Bill Wade said: We think the proposed rule is manufactured and driven politically to fix a problem that doesnt exist. Data show that parks are among the safest places to be in this country. Moreover, we believe it will create more problems than it can possibly fix. It is likely to alter, over time, the friendly atmosphere visitors look forward to in parks, where they go to get away from the day to day pressures and influences of their everyday lives, including worry about guns.

How many visitors want to be concerned about whether the person next to them during a ranger-guided walk, or that shares a backcountry campsite, has a concealed, loaded gun? Reliance on impulsive use of guns in the face of perceived threats or disputes, such as in campgrounds will increase the risk to visitors and employees. Impulsive uses of guns in response to being startled by or by perceived threats from wildlife will increase the risks to wildlife and to visitors, such as from wounded wildlife or shots fired at wildlife -- such as in campground -- that miss and connect with nearby campers.

Administrative requirements related to this rule in parks will become complicated. Issues of reciprocity of authorities for guns between states will have to be sorted out. Decisions about how to keep guns out of administrative and concession buildings will involve signing, further cluttering the developed areas; and potentially even security screening.

The existing regulation works just fine, and has for decades. This is a proposed rule that deserves to be shot down!

The proposed rule is open for comment for 60 days. Over the next couple weeks, we will be providing additional information for those of you who want to comment, and we hope that will be all of you. Numbers of substantive comments will be important, since we can expect the NRA to mount a public campaign in favor of the proposed regulation.

Bill Wade
Chair, Executive Council
Coalition of National Park Service Retirees

Forum: Bulletins and Discussions

They came, they saw, they conquered

CMS — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:53:28 GMT

The sixth High Rock Challenge lured 151 teams, with racers coming from as far as Sweden and the Canary Islands, off the coast of Spain (tourists who signed up at the last minute), plus scores of Staten Islanders.

Law enforcement cateogry: first: Gerry Walker and Mike Fermaint, U.S. Park Police, 1:17:06

For entire article follow this link.

Forum: Bulletins and Discussions

HMP Graduation

CMS — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:08:36 GMT

On Friday, May 2, 2008, at 1100 hours at the Edgewater Stable, the Force will be graduating the Basic Horse Mounted Training Class. Four U.S. Park Police officers, 3 Maryland National Park Police officers, and 2 officers from the Special Task Force of the Central Command, Georgian Interior Ministry will be graduating.

Please join us for the celebration. On-duty personnel must have prior supervisory approval.

The uniform of the day for HMP staff and the Executive staff will be blouses; the uniform of the day for other Force officers will be long sleeve shirt and tie.

Forum: Bulletins and Discussions

Status of the Force

CMS — Thur, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:38 GMT

I have received a copy of the "Status of the Force" written by Acting Assistant Chief Lauro and it is posted in the Members Only Section

Curt

Forum: Bulletins and Discussions

Remembrance April 15th

CMS — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 16:07:35 GMT

April 15^th marks the 64^th Anniversary of one of our own who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Officer Joseph E. Shawhan died as a result of injuries he sustained in a motor vehicle accident while pursing a traffic violator on the George Washington Memorial Parkway in the vicinity of Wellington on April 15, 1944.

He was 60 years old and had 24 years of U.S. Park Police service (NLEOM 41E 7).

Forum: Bulletins and Discussions