A Status Report from the Acting Assistant Chief
Posted by editor on May 31st, 2008 filed in From the Editor
Recently Acting Assistant Chief Lauro released a memo on the status of the Force. Acting AC Lauro was placed in command by the Secretary in response to the OIG Report.
Some highlights were:
- The stalled (3+ years) promotion process is back on track. The expectant opening period is tentatively scheduled for June 9th and lasts three weeks. The test on Sept 20th at MPD Training Academy with the Assessment Center in October. The list will hopefully be published by the end of ‘08.
- On May 19th, 20 recruits reported to FLETC for academy. HR is currently processing appplicants for a 28 recruit class in October. And the Force is trying to budget for 72 recruits for fiscal year ‘09. See USAJOBS for announcement NPS-NCR-08-33 (191917) currently open.
- Thankfully a professional administrative officer has started and a professional CFO will be selected from a new list.
This has been a good first effort. The true test will be if the NPS and DOI follow thru with their commitments and not drop the ball after the OIG’s and the publics’ eyes are distracted. The official response to the OIG’s report was due this month. It should respond to the report and hopefully layout the long term plan. The USPP needs a significant increase in the budget (police work is expensive and not profitable) and even more recruits then mentioned above. Attrition from retirements and resignations are keeping the numbers from improving.
Unfortunately, the realist in me sees these recent efforts are just to appease the OIG and Congress’ interest. With NPS hoping that with the upcoming election, the whole problem can go back to being ignored.
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No Response is Not a New Response
Posted by editor on May 16th, 2008 filed in From the Editor
As of yet there has been no repsonse to the OIG report. A command officer particapating in the response believed that the response wasn’t due until middle or late May. The justification was that Command believed it had 90 business days. Please, if it was an officer giving that excuse to command they would be slapped down. But we are not shocked by this, since there are several grievances in progress and command always delays their responses at every step. Hopefully OIG will hold NPS to their obligation of giving a response for rectifying the situation.
A few cruisers have been ordered and new classes have been planned, but officers are still leaving the job so there hasn’t been a net gain of any signifigance. Command’s response to the manpower shortage has been to shorten the field training phase (which is arguably the most important phase) to a point where new officers aren’t getting the training and evaulations they need. A class of five recently hit the street after the standard 12 weeks of field training. The class of 15 had a different schedule. It was one week in each district and two weeks in District One. That’s been changed somewhat but I believe that’s the plan. This short sighted solution will catch up to the USPP in the long term. An improperly trained officer is a liability to himself, others on the street, citizens, and the department. But hey, command can point to more officers on the street (until you subtract the officers that have left).
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Help the National Law Enforcement Memorial
Posted by editor on May 5th, 2008 filed in News
With Police Week coming up, the National Park Service wants bring the memorial up to it’s full potential. The National Park Service is holding a second volunteer work day on May 10, 2008 at the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. We will be detail washing the memorial (SMALL scrub brushes)with a detergent/biocide.
If anyone is interested in helping out please RSVP by close of business May 9. We will again have two sessions - 9-12 and 1-4 on May 10. Please specify which time you would like to come. Event will be held rain or shine. The memorial is across from the National Building Museum and is accessible by the Red Line Judiciary Square Metro Station.
Bring water and sunblock! Please contact Catherine Dewey (email) Catherine_dewey@nps.gov or (202-536-8895) directly if you have any questions or would like to volunteer.
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K9 Officer Takes First In Competition
Posted by editor on April 23rd, 2008 filed in News
Released by USPP By Sergeant Robert Lachance, Public Information Officer
April 23, 2008
On April 5th and 6th, members of the United States Park Police explosives detection K9 teams participated in the United States Police Canine Association Region 3’s certification trials in Berkley Springs, West Virginia. There were a total of 65 teams entered in the certification field for this session.
Officer Bartlett and his partner, Shadow, placed first out of the field of 65 entrants. With the rigorous tasks that are required for this certification, it is truly a testament to their work ethic.
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DOI & NPS Insert Management Teams
Posted by editor on March 6th, 2008 filed in News
Lyle Laverty, DOI Assistant Secretary of Fish and Wildlfe and Parks, Mary Bomar -NPS Director, and James E. Cason - Assistant Secretary - Policy, Management and Budget (PMB) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) have been named as members of the Management Oversight Team. This team will oversee the Command Management Team (CMT) which is headed by Salvatore Lauro, Maj (ret.). Lauro is now the Acting Assistant Chief and has “full command”.
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Chief Relieved of Command
Posted by editor on March 5th, 2008 filed in News
Media is reporting that Chief Pettiford has been relieved of command while an assessment of him is conducted. Major Salvatore Lauro (retired) will assume day-to-day command of the department.
FOP Chairman Austin reiterated that the removal of the chief is not the end goal of the labor committee. Austin stated “I think it’s an important first step of trying to get the Park Police right back on the track. . . . There was an impediment to our progress with Chief Pettiford.”
The United States Park Police are still in need of new officers, a budget that accuratly reflects the force’s mission, development of good leadership and support of the officers in the field.
An employee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 5, 2008. Updates will appear here as they become available.
Early news reports:
WTOP
Washington Post
Washington Times
The Examiner
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Command’s Inability to Hire
Posted by editor on March 3rd, 2008 filed in From the Editor
Since the OIG Report came out on Feb 5, 2008, the media, union, public, and elected officials have been very vocal on the findings.
The report made national news with all the major news services running pieces. Articles have been published throughout the states and overseas. Recent Washington Post and Radio discussions show that the public realizes the gravity of the situation.
The silence from command, NPS, and DOI has been deafening. They continually choose to ignore the problems and hope they go away. Ignoring the problems over the past 15 years has made them fester, become systemic, and is likely to become fatal. Read the rest of this entry »
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USPP FOP Chairman on American University Radio
Posted by editor on February 29th, 2008 filed in In The Media
The OIG Report was the main topic of The Kojo Nnamdi Show on American University Radio. A very good interview with Eleanor Holmes Norton, Delegate, U.S. House of Representatives (D-DC), Mary Beth Sheridan, Staff Writer, Washington Post and Jim Austin, Chairman, Fraternal Order of Police- U.S. Park Police Labor Committee. Ms. Sherdian recent Washington Post article “Park Police Face Senior Staffing Shortages” and “Report Criticizes Federal Police Force” which discussed the OIG Report. Rep. Norton promised House hearings regarding the OIG report and the Department of Interior’s required response.
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So It Begins ….
Posted by editor on February 4th, 2008 filed in News
The DOI OIG Assessment has officially been released. You can read the first Washington Post article Park Police Rebuked for Weak Security by Michael E. Ruane. There are so many comments that I wish to make, but for now take a moment and read the report.
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Fair Labor Standards Act Decision
Posted by editor on December 1st, 2007 filed in News
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) grievance has been decided and the arbitrator has published his decision. The decision was favorable to the members of the labor committee. Read the rest of this entry »