Park News September 26,2008

Olympic National Park

Park staff coordinated the rescue of three young people off the summit shoulder of Mount Angeles on September 21st. After reaching the mountain’s summit, they began their descent in fog, which obscured the route and caused them to become disoriented. They attempted to walk down the steep eastern shoulder, but eventually gave up. Just before darkness, one of them called 911, contacted park dispatch, and asked for help. Rangers were able to make voice contact, but were unable to lead them down due to darkness and steep terrain. Rangers and trail crew members hiked in with rescue equipment the next morning, but the effort failed because of fog and steep, unstable terrain. Five rangers them climbed above the trio via the southeast ridge and were able to reach them. With improving visibility, the rangers were able to climb within 125 feet of them, but could not close the final distance. Because of waning daylight, lack of adequate anchors, and steep and unstable rock, an air evacuation was ordered. A helicopter from Whidbey Island Naval Air Station arrived just before darkness and hoisted them out. All were wet and cold but otherwise okay.

 

Rock Creek Park

Just before midnight on Sunday, September 21st, the United States Park Police were notified of an armed robbery that had occurred at Meridian Hill. Officers met with the victim, who said that he’d been sitting on the steps at 15th and Chapin Streets when he was approached by two men, one of whom showed a firearm and told the man to walk with him. The victim was brought into a bathroom and robbed of personal belongings. A second person was in the bathroom. The two robbers ordered them to remain in the bathroom, then fled. The victim came out of the bathroom after a few minutes and heard a shot fired. He then flagged down a police officer. Detectives are investigating the incident.

 

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

On Monday, September 22nd, park personnel and state and county dive teams were in the process of searching for a drowning victim (see report in Wednesday’s edition) when dispatch reported a vessel fire about ten miles up lake in Friendship Cove. An explosion had occurred on the 25-foot vessel which had two people onboard. When rangers got there, they found a red and white vessel onshore near a tent camp, fully engulfed in flames. All passengers and tent camp occupants were accounted for and okay. The park’s aids to navigation vessel, which is equipped with a portable pump, soon arrived on scene. Rangers and dive team members extinguished the fire, using a single hose line drafting from the lake. Water was lobbed from the upwind side until the flames were knocked down. When the accident occurred, the boat’s main engine was off and the trolling motor was in use. The operator heard an explosion behind him and the fire followed. Preliminary investigation suggests that a newly-installed battery may have caused the explosion. Laurie Axelsen was IC.

 

United States Park Police

Deputy chief David Stover will retired from the United States Park Police on September 27th after more than 35 years of distinguished service. He began his career on April 15, 1973. 

After completing his basic training in Washington, DC, Stover served as a patrol officer in the Central District, patrolling the National Mall and surrounding parks. He also served in the Anacostia Station, patrolling NCP-East, and in the New York Field Office.  He involved himself in collateral duties as an EMT for the Aviation Unit, as the Maryland court liaison, and as a field training officer for new recruits.  Some of his assignments during his patrol officer days included undercover drug operations and an assignment at Mount Rushmore. 

Stover received four outstanding police service awards during this time.  One of the incidents he was recognized for occurred during a traffic stop on the Suitland Parkway in June 1977.  When he approached the vehicle, which was occupied by five men, one of them in the back seat screamed for the officer’s help.  He kept his cool and waited for backup to arrive.  The five were then safely detained and it was learned the man who screamed for help had been kidnapped by the other four individuals, who were armed with a sawed off shotgun and a pistol. 

In 1979, Stover was promoted to sergeant and continued his patrol work in the Central District, as well as the Rock Creek District.  He was later assigned to Criminal Investigations, where he was selected to create a narcotics task force, as mandated by Congress. 

In 1985 he was promoted to lieutenant and held assignments to the Shift Commander's Office and as the commander of District Two, which patrols the George Washington Memorial Parkway.  While at this rank, he also commanded the Traffic Safety Unit and was an EEO investigator for the NPS.  He also attended the FBI National Academy during this time.  His awards at this rank included the Bar Association Award, an award from the National Transportation Safety Board, and two outstanding police service awards.

In 1996 Stover was promoted to captain and held assignments to the New York Field Office, as the West District commander, and the commander of the Office of Professional Responsibility.  During this time, he attended the NYPD Internal Affairs School and also received an award from the superintendent of Gateway National Recreation Area.  In 2004 he attained the rank of major, commanding the New York Field Office (NYFO).  Of all his assignments, Stover enjoyed his job the most during his times in the NYFO.

Finally, in 2005, he reached the rank of deputy chief in charge of the Operations Division.  During this time he was honored to be received by the American Embassy in the Republic of Georgia for assisting the Georgia police in coordinating and establishing training for a horse mounted unit.

“David is an enduring figure of the United States Park Police having been involved in over three decades of Force history,” stated acting assistant chief Sal Lauro, “and we wish him well in his new endeavors.”

 

Northeast Region

Chris Soller has been selected as the new superintendent of Fire Island National Seashore. Soller will manage almost 20,000 acres, a staff of nearly 100 employees, and a budget of almost $4 million. He begins his assignment in November.

Soller follows Michael Reynolds, who left Fire Island in February to become deputy regional director for Northeast Region.  

“Chris Soller has a deep appreciation of the environment and the communities of Fire Island.” said regional director Dennis Reidenbach. “He understands the challenges of managing a shifting barrier island and brings expertise in partnerships and philanthropy to this new assignment.”

Soller is a 31-year veteran of the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior.  Prior to his position in the NPS National Partnership Office in Washington, D.C., he served as superintendent of the Jamaica Bay Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area, program manager of the National Parks of New York Harbor, legislative specialist with the National Park Service’s Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs in Washington, D.C., management assistant for Fire Island National Seashore, and outdoor recreation planner, working with state and local governments on park and recreation issues.

“Fire Island and Fire Island National Seashore, including the William Floyd Estate, are very special,” says Soller.  “I have walked the Island’s beaches for many years, watching the sun come up over the Atlantic Ocean or waning over the Island in the late afternoon and I am always struck by the beauty and solitude that exists there, just 60 miles from the chaos and energy of New York City. One of the exciting and challenging aspects of working at Fire Island is the diversity of the Island’s and the Seashore’s constituents who all have deep feelings for the Island and the park. The challenge is to harness those divergent positions and bring them together on their common ground, a love for Fire Island, and challenge them to work cooperatively to be stewards of this magnificent place.”

A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Soller has lived for the past 30 years in either Washington, DC and metropolitan New York.  He earned his BA in American studies from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and his MA in urban and environmental planning from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia.  He and his partner of 15 years, Jack Curry, have maintained a home on Fire Island since 2000.

Fire Island is a barrier island with beaches, dunes, ancient maritime forests, wildlife, a federally designated wilderness area, and National Historic Landmarks. More than 2.2 million people a year come to Fire Island, which includes seventeen communities, a county park within Seashore boundaries, and a New York State Park on the western end of Fire Island. Far from the sounds and pressures of nearby big-city life, it offers solitude, camaraderie, and spiritual renewal to civilization-weary people. For more information about Fire Island National Seashore, visit www.nps.gov/fiis

For more information about the National Park Service Northeast Region, visit www.nps.gov/nero

 

Pacific West Region

Dates: 09/22/2008 - 10/31/2008

The National Park Service is seeking an experienced, dynamic and energetic individual to serve as the superintendent for the National Park of American Samoa. The announcement closes on October 31st.  For a copy of the announcement, including a detailed job description and application procedures, please click on “More Information” below.



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Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, is seeking to fill a detail opportunity for an environmental protection specialist. The detail is advertised on USA Jobs under announcement number SEKI-08-57EE. For a copy, click on “More Information” below.

For further information on this detail opportunity, contact Christine Smith at 559-565-3105 or Christine_Smith@nps.gov. The announcement closes on October 6th.



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