OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE UNITED STATES PARK POLICE - FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE EAGLE TIMES DISPATCH March 2014 NAVY YARD HEROES AWARDED U. S. PARK POLICE MEDAL OF HONOR [ DC MPD OFC. DORIAN DESANTIS [ USPP OFC. CARL HIOTT [ USPP OFC. ANDREW WONG 1st Quarter 2014 WWW.USPPFOP.ORG EAGLE TIMES DISPATCH Things the U. S. Park Police 10 NEED NOW! 1. MORE OFFICERS --- The Park Police is Understaffed By the end of 2013 the United States Park Police will have less than 630 sworn officers. The National Park Service holds the position that the United States Park Police needs 639 sworn officers. If the trend of re- tirements continues the Park Police will have less than 600 sworn officers by the end of 2014. The impact of this level of staffing level will prevent the Park Police from performing their mission. Keep in mind that the 639 sworn officer limit claimed by the National Park Service is not based on an independent staffing analysis. In fact, the Park Police is understaffed at 639 officers. At this level, they are unable to safely and effectively accomplish their mission. The last independent staffing analysis was done by the consulting firm Booz, Allen in 1999, approximately two years before September 11, 2001. Booz-Allen stated in their 1999 report that the U. S. Park Police needed 820 sworn officers to operate safely. The most recent Chief of Police, Teresa Chambers stated in 2003 that the Park Police needed 1400 sworn officers to operate safely. The Park Police need to hire two recruit classes in FY’ 2014. Failing to hire two recruit classes before the end of 2014, would be reckless. Cost: UNKNOWN 2. Equipment for Capturing Evidence from Digital Devices The United States Park Police has no equipment and no fully trained officers to secure/analyze evidence from digital devices (mobile phones, tablets, etc). This prevents criminal investigations from being conduct- ed effectively. Cost to fix: Approximately $55,000.00. 3. Equipment for Capturing Evidence from Video Surveillance Systems The United States Park Police has no specialized equipment and no trained officers to secure/analyze evi- dence from Video Surveillance Systems. This prevents criminal investigations from being conducted effec- tively. Cost to fix: Approximately $55,000.00. 4. Common Radio Frequency The United States Park Police and the other DC Metropolitan Area Law Enforcement Agencies need a com- mon frequency to coordinate operations during incidents like the Navy Yard Shooting. Cost: UNKNOWN 5. Replace Aging Helicopters-- A New Bell 412 Helicopter NOW The United States Park Police Aviation Section needs a new Bell 412 helicopter to replace the one that is 23 years old. The Park Service wants to buy a less capable and less safe aircraft. They cannot be allowed to prevail. The Bell 412 has a proven track record of safety and mission effectiveness. Cost: Approximately $18,000,000.00. 6. Better Video Surveillance Systems and Control Centers The U.. S. Park Police need a modern Video Surveillance Control Center that is design, staffed, equipped and supported to effectively protect the ICONS. Cost to fix: UNKNOWN 7. Fix Problems with Dispatch and Reporting System In fact, the United States Park Police does not have an integrated Dispatch and Reporting System. What they have is a crude hodgepodge of systems. IMARS, ILEADS, TRACKER and CAD do not speak to each other. IMARS the reporting system dictated by the DOI is a disaster. Cost to fix: UNKNOWN 8. Patrol Rifles, Gear and Training for Active Shooter Situations All officers on the United States Park Police need to be equipped and trained with patrol rifles. Cost: Unknown 9. Participate on Task Forces The United States Park Police to maintain effective investigative operations needs to fully participate in area task forces. 10. Mass Casualty Equipment The United States Park Police needs to obtain adequate equipment and training to effectively treat victims of mass casualty incidents. 1st Quarter/March 2014 GO TO TOC Page 2 WWW.USPPFOP.ORG EAGLE TIMES DISPATCH Table of Contents Chairman’s Report Page 4 Navy Yard Heroes Receive Highest U. S. Park Police Award Page 5 Fraternal Order of Police U. S. Park Police Ofc. Cooney Saves Life During United States Park Police Labor Committee Navy Yard Incident Page 6 1320 G Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003 U. S. Park Police Honors Brave Actions Taken During Telephone: 202-544-4813 Website: usppfop.org Navy Yard Incident Page 7 Fax: 202-544-5918 Email: [email protected] U. S. Park Police Awards Chief’s Certificates for Actions Taken During Navy Yard Incident Executive Board Page 8 Ian Glick Tourniquets Saved Lives in Boston Bombing Chair Page 10 Gary Hatch Billy Sepeck West District Power Squad Receives Unit Citation Vice-Chair Executive Chief Steward- DC Page 12 Bill Battista Mark Faraci Secretary Executive Chief Steward- NY D1 Crime Patrol Unit Receives Unit Citation Page 13 Anthony McSherry Russell Kidd Treasurer Executive Chief Steward- CA U. S. Park Police Special Events Unit Receives Unit Citation Page 14 Shop Stewards U. S. Park Police Civilian Staff Receives Unit Citation Washington, DC Page 15 District 1 District 3 K9 Dave Crandall Debyn Brown Charles Wilkins U. S. Park Police Officer Lamond Delivers Baby on BWPKWY Mike Russo District 4 Motors The Eagles (Chittick/Hurley) Hoist Another to Safety Sean Kellenberger Gary Hatch Todd Hand Page 16 James Dingeldein District 5 Services District 2 VACANT Elizabeth Kessebeh Anthony McSherry CIB SWAT U. S. Park Police Officers Assist Cotayba Al-Saigh I.P. Edwards Ernie Eclipse Wounded Alexandria Police Officer Laboy Jack Eddington Page 17 Angelo Herron SanFrancisco Office Detective Mike Horman Retires He’ll Be Busy Grooming MPO’S ID Patrol Page 18 Michael Cameron Ken Rawles Eric Cole Alternates Canine Sean Cox U. S. Park Police Aviation: William Battista Michael Griffin CIB Vinh Nguyen HMP Ezra Savage The Eagles Face Critical Equipment & Personnel Issues Irma Javier Page 19 New York Office Back Page: Liberty District Staten Island Brooklyn U. S. Park Police Retirees Association Honors U.S. Park Police Chris Kyriako Robert O’Brien Saoud Mohammed Actions During Navy Yard Incident Harold Gonzales Robert McGarry The EAGLE TIMES DISPATCH is published quarterly by the Fraternal Order of Police, United States Park Police Labor Committee organized under the Fraternal Order of Police, State Lodge for the District of Columbia. Media inquiries should be directed to the Fraternal Order of Police, United States Park Police Labor Committee. Front Page Image: US DOI - T. Heilemann 1st Quarter/March 2014 Page 3 WWW.USPPFOP.ORG EAGLE TIMES DISPATCH Chairman’s Report This is the first quarter publication of the Eagle Times Dispatch for 2014 and the past few months have been times of serious change. Chief Chambers, Deputy Chiefs Chapman and O’Toole, all retired in December. The National Park Service has continued its unwritten policy of neglect, it applies to the U.S. Park Police. Parkways went neglected during snowstorms. Our offices and stations continue to be neglected by the National Park Service. Pretty grim stuff, and yet, day in and day out, you have all reported to your stations, offices and stables and continued doing the job you all do so well in spite of the poor working conditions provided by the National Park Service. Once again, I take my hat off to all of you. So, what have we got planned for the next few months? Your Union continues to represent officers in disciplinary actions; we will have several institutional grievances filed (shortly after the release of this publication); we will be lobbying Congress on a number of mea- sures, including dangerously low staffing, compression of steps, replacement of our aging aviation fleet in DC and continuing to provide frank, honest, unfiltered information to members of both the House and the Senate on the state of the U.S. Park Police. Keep monitoring our Facebook and Twitter feeds as well as the message board for updates on the issues affecting you and your coworkers. Keep doing the work you do, so well and remember: we’re all in this together. BE SAFE! -Ian VIDEO GIVES HARD LESSON Muzzle Flash WARNING: This video is unedited and very graphic. On April 12, 2011 at approximately 11:30 PM, Officer Jonathan Schmidt of the Trumann Arkansas Police Department was murdered during a traffic stop. The subject who shot Officer Schmidt was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. Officer Schmidt was well known for his bravery and devotion to duty. The video of the traffic stop from a cruiser camera was released by the Trumann Police Department on August 7, 2012 and is posted on the Internet in many places. Chad Henson, the Chief of the Trumann Police Department, stated that the video would be used to teach police recruits and change procedures on his department. All police officers should view this video; the gut-wrenching lesson it provides requires no elaboration. Civilians viewing this video will see the dangers police officers face and clearly see why officers must be cautious in all their encounters. Our hope is that this video will strengthen the resolve of officers to train regularly and strive to maintain tactical advantage at all times. 1st Quarter/March 2014 GO TO TOC Page 4 WWW.USPPFOP.ORG EAGLE TIMES DISPATCH Navy Yard Heroes Receive Highest U. S. Park Police Award (From L to R): Mr. Ian Glick ( FOP Chairman), Secretary Sally Jewell (Department of the Interior), U. S. Park Police Officer Carl Hiott, U. S. Park Police Officer Andrew Wong, D. C. Metropolitan Police Officer Dorian DeSantis, U. S. Park Police Chief Robert MacLean, and Director Jonathan Jarvis (National Park Service) Photograph: US DOI - T.