Lauro Named Chief
Posted by editor on December 29th, 2008 filed in From the Editor
On Christmas Eve, Acting Assistant Chief Sal Lauro was announced as the new Chief. Chief Lauro had retired as a Major from the USPP and taken a position with the DOI Office Law Enforcement Services. During the “troubles“, Lauro was placed to address the Inspector General critical report of the Force’s state.
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Latest Status of the Force from Acting A/C Lauro
Posted by editor on November 5th, 2008 filed in From the Editor
Recently Acting Assistant Chief Lauro issued a fourth Status of the Force memo since taking charge of the USPP. Some highlights:
Captain Smith was recently promoted to the rank of Major and assigned to fill the vacant position of Commander, Patrol Branch.
Ms Leslie Newman, retired Supervisory Human Resources Specialist for the National Capital Region, has been contracted to provide assistance and support to our Human Resources Office.
Mr Dan Douek has been selected as our new contract Program Manager for our radio program. Mr Douek’s initial focus will be to coordinate the design and installation of the new radio infrastructure in the Washington Metropolitan Area (WMA) and the New York Field Office (NYFO), as well as the relocation of the Communications section from Headquarters to the Anacostia Operations Facility (AOF) Read the rest of this entry »
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Chief Wanted (Please Bring Leadership, Money, PEOPLE! )
Posted by editor on October 15th, 2008 filed in From the Editor
The opening has been announced. All who want to be Chief throw your name in the hat. But realize that you’re inheriting an agency that is not supported by the DOI/NPS beaurcrats, a reluctant DOI Solictor, has poor middle managers not leaders, no real upper command and no real budget. The physical infrastructure is pathetic. An analog radio system that was outdated in the 1960s. Officers constantly unable to transmit or recieve vital messages. Programs and mentalaties rustier then a 1930 police call box they were orginally discussed on. An IT department that is underfunded, a Training Branch of one. The everloomng doubt regarding the continued presence/location of the District Five station, just to name a few.
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U.S. Park Police 2008 Organizational Assessment Survey Results
Posted by editor on August 22nd, 2008 filed in From the Editor
Just released:
Director Bomar and I want to thank all of the employees who participated in the 2008 U.S. Park Police OAS. The survey was administered to full-time employees from May 19 to July 1, 2008 by OPM’s Center for Talent Services, which has administered the OAS to many Federal agencies and developed internal government benchmarks. The response rate was 56%, and analysis of the demographics of the respondents indicates that these results are representative of USPP. Overall, reponses across the 17 categories were pretty negative, as you can see in the benchmark chart below showing benchmark highs, medians, lows and USPP results in green. Favorable responses ranged from a low of 16% for items related to Rewards & Recognition to a high of 56% for Teamwork. Your responses and survey comments raised many concerns, especially in areas related to resources, training and career development, rewards, communication and employee involvement. The views you expressed will help us in the development of plans to improve the Park Police as an organization and a place to work. Our long-term success will depend on management and staff collaborating in taking action based on your responses.I will keep you informed of next steps and ways you can participate in our plans for improvement. Again, thank you for providing input that will guide our efforts to provide the best possible working environment to all USPP employees.
Salvatore R. Lauro Acting Assistant Chief
There’s so much to talk about. Click on the graph to see the one page document released to the officers. I’m sure there is a fat report on the “negative responses” but we’ll never see it.
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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