Park News September 24,2008

National Mall & Memorial Parks

Park Police officer Tim Wallace was dispatched to Hains Point Bay 13 around 6 p.m. on September 10th to investigate a report of a car clout in progress. Wallace met with a man who’d seen another man – later identified as Brandyn Green – break a window of his vehicle and take a GPS electronic device from the car. He yelled out to Green, who appeared to throw the device back into the vehicle, then attempted to flee toward another vehicle. Before he could make good on his effort to escape, though, the victim and other witnesses ran towards him, causing Green to jump out and flee on foot. An updated lookout was broadcast, and officers Jonothan Alto and Michael Alto stopped Green. He had fresh cuts on his elbow which appeared consistent with those that would be incurred in breaking glass. The victim positively identified him and Green was arrested. During the on-scene investigation, officers found that the vehicle Green attempted to flee in had been reported stolen. At the same time, officer Donald Houghton reported that a GPS device had been stolen earlier in the day from a car in the Tidal Basin parking lot. The owner of that vehicle said that her home address was locked into the device. Officers found a GPS device inside the stolen vehicle. It was turned on and it had the given address on it. Green was charged on multiple counts, including unauthorized use of a vehicle, theft from an auto, and destruction of private property. On September 12th, members of the Criminal Investigation Branch’s major crimes and narcotics and vice units from District One and officers from the Special Forces Branch served a warrant on Green’s residence. During the search, they found a large amount of stolen property, including new vehicle registration tags, clothing, electronic devices, jewelry, and loaded pistol magazines. They were seized. Green was at the residence and was arrested. Additional charges were added for theft, receiving stolen property, and unregistered ammunition. Detectives contacted the local police department to investigate whether Green is a suspect in any of their cases.

 

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

On the afternoon of Saturday, September 20th, dispatch received a report that a person on a boat near Face Canyon hit his head, fell overboard, and failed to resurface. Rangers Grant Stolhand and Eric Herndon responded along with a Utah State Park ranger. The rangers found that Luke Rogers, 19, of Seattle, Washington, had been standing on the bow seat of a rental runabout boat, holding onto the bow line for balance, while the boat was on plane. When the boat operator slowed down, Rogers was ejected. The operator and a passenger onboard heard a thud and stopped the boat. They couldn’t find Rogers, and, after circling the area for about five minutes, called for assistance on marine band radio. Rogers was visiting the lake with college friends from California. The park and Utah Highway Patrol dive team are conducting dive operations in an effort to find and recover the body.

 

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Between the late morning and early afternoon hours of Sunday, September 21st, seven portable toilets and one permanent public restroom were purposely set on fire in the Buxton area.  No injuries resulted, but property damage consisted of partial to totally melted portable toilets and badly burned wooden fencing and boardwalk areas around them. The initial estimate is that it will cost about $12,300 to repair and replace the facilities. Sunday was the first day of the Eastern Surfing Association’s (ESA) national surfing competition, which is held annually at Buxton Beach. Tension exists between locals and surfers and the ESA and leads are being investigated by rangers, assisted by the Dare County Fire Marshall’s Office.

 

United States Park Police

Major Bruce D. Cunningham retired from the United States Park Police on September 27th after 32 years and 9 months of distinguished service. 

Bruce began his career on December 28, 1975.  His Park Police rookie class was the first to attend the police academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia.  

Upon graduation and successful completion of field training, Bruce was assigned as a patrol officer in the Central District, which encompasses the National Mall, its memorials and monuments, and surrounding National Park Service areas.  Bruce also served as a patrolman at the National Visitor’s Center in the Special Protection District, and in 1977 was reassigned to the Anacostia Station patrolling NPS areas within National Capital Parks – East.  While at the Anacostia Station, Bruce served as a shop steward for the Police Association of the District of Columbia.

In April 1988, Bruce was promoted to the rank of sergeant and assigned to the Services Division as a communications section supervisor.  In October 1991, he was promoted to lieutenant and assigned to the Shift Commander’s Office, and in 1993 selected as the assistant Central District commander.

In June 1995, Bruce was promoted to captain and served as Midwest Region’s law enforcement specialist.  In 2002, he received a Department of the Interior honor award for developing and managing the retired ranger law enforcement credential program.  Bruce processed nearly 200 retired law enforcement credential requests from every NPS region.  As commander of the Midwest Region’s special events team, Bruce traveled each President’s Day weekend with this elite law enforcement ranger team to Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area in Southern California.  The team assisted Bureau of Land Management law enforcement rangers in enforcing regulations, making arrests and controlling criminal activity by cyclists and four-wheelers.

In 2004, Bruce transferred to the Park Police New York Field Office as Gateway District commander. In August of 2007, he was promoted to the rank of major and assigned to the National Park Service’s Washington Office as the national law enforcement specialist. From September 2007 through May 2008, he was designated as acting commander of the Park Police Services Division. In this capacity, Bruce successfully worked on numerous Park Police procurement needs and was instrumental in the rating and awarding of a critical contract for consultant work on the promotion process to the ranks of police sergeant, lieutenant, and captain.  During July and August 2008, Bruce periodically served as acting commander of the Services and Field Offices Division. 

Throughout his career, Bruce received myriad special achievement awards nad recognition, commendations, and letters of appreciation.

In 1999, Bruce’s two sons, Darren and Christopher, were hired by the Park Police.  Darren resigned from the force in 2003 to work for the Omaha City Police Department and is currently a police detective. He resides in LaVista, Nebraska, with his wife Beth.  Christopher has recently been assigned to the Park Police Motorcycle Unit within the Special Forces Branch and resides in Stafford, Virginia, with his wife Melody, son Christopher, and daughter Calli.  Bruce’s daughter, Tricia, is a registered nurse living in Papillion, Nebraska, with husband Troy, and son Cole.  Tricia is expecting her second child in November.

Bruce will retire to Papillion with his wife, Alice.  Bruce and Alice have been married 35 years as of September 30, 2008.  Bruce has no immediate plans after retirement but will eventually seek employment, possibly with local government.

 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is seeking a highly motivated candidate to fill a GL-0025-9 law enforcement park ranger position in the Deep Creek area, located in Bryson City, North Carolina.  The candidate must currently posses or be able to obtain a Level I law enforcement commission and National Registry EMT certification. This is a permanent, full-time, primary/rigorous position, covered by the 20-year special enhanced retirement system. Applications are due by October 7th. For details on how to apply for this position (204945-GRSM-0821), contact supervisory park ranger KK Stuart at 828-506-3016 or district ranger Tom Iandimarino at 828-497-1918.  If you previously applied for this position when it was advertised on USA Jobs and are still interested, you do not need to re-send your application.  Make contact with the names listed above and fax your SF-50 to 828-497-1933.