U.S. PARK POLICE FORCE LEVELS CONTINUE FALLING

[nosmokes]

original-peer

For Immediate Release: February 25, 2008
Contact: Carol Goldberg [phone]

U.S. PARK POLICE FORCE LEVELS CONTINUE FALLING

— Lowest Level in 20 Years Fuels Frustrations and Exodus of Officers

Washington, DC — The number of U.S. Park Police officers is the lowest it has been in twenty years, according to figures obtained by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). Despite adding a new class of recruits last month, the Park Police force of sworn officers fell to 576 at the end of January, its lowest level since 1987.

This critically low staffing is aggravating problems both within the force and for visitors and commuters in Park Police-patrolled parkways and parks. The oldest uniformed police force in federal service, the U.S. Park Police is responsible for protecting the National Mall, the Statute of Liberty, scores of parks in the District of Columbia, five major parkways and various other sites from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco to the Wolf Trap Center for Performing Arts in Northern Virginia.

The first recruiting class since September 2006 added seven new officers to Park Police ranks, but this increment is not keeping up with attrition, as the total force level dropped by a net nine officers from just the end of December 2007. Since the end of January 2008, at least four more officers have left the force.

In 2004, Park Police Chief Teresa Chambers was terminated for drawing attention to understaffing, a problem that has only grown worse in her absence. Earlier this month, a federal appeals court upheld Chambers’ challenge to her removal but the case is not finally resolved and is subject to further litigation.

The current complement of 576 officers is nearly 50 below the 2001 force levels and even further below the peak of 638 officers in 1999. All of these numbers, however, are well short of the force level of 806 officers recommended by the National Park Service back in 2000 – before the Park Police was assigned new anti-terrorism duties in the wake of 9/11.

These chronic shortfalls are also reflected in —

* Record levels of assaults on Park Police officers who are often forced to respond to incidents without back-up;
* A blistering assessment of Park Police performance, particularly on the National Mall, released earlier this month by the Interior Department Office of Inspector General; and
* An overwhelmingly pessimistic survey of Park Police officers early last year complaining about the lack of funding, inadequate force levels and equipment. The survey also rendered a resounding vote of no confidence in current Park Police leadership.

“Congress needs to intervene now if the current decline in the U.S. Park Police is going to be reversed,” stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch, whose organization has represented Chief Chambers in her long legal fight. “We are well beyond the point where the Park Police can be expected to continue doing more with less.”

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complete release including links to related sources

[MediaBabe]

1. Death by a thousand cuts

It's happening in a thousand departments all across the federal government. Money being cut, positions not being filled. Attrition depleting staff so far that their mission can no longer be accomplished. All for the oil war. There isn't any part of the federal gov that has not been hit hard by the Bush Administration. Border Patrol numbers falling. Highway repairs not being funded. Hospitals being closed. Medicare cut. NCLB unfunded. Drug money to local cops slashed.

Veteran's benefits are there but there are not enough staff to serve the applications so what vets should get the day they come back from Iraq wounded for life takes years to get. IRS staff to investigate tax fraud is so low proper investigations cannot be done. Social Security Disability claims are almost to a rule denied the first time, (over 90%) and appeals judges are so few that an appeal now takes more than four years on average.

National Parks crumbling and thousands of National Forest camp sites and hiking trails and roads closed. No money for maintenance, no staff to do the job. I could go on...

This is what the Republicans mean when they say they want to shrink government until it can be drowned in a bathtub.

[moondust]

2. "U.S. considers easing ban on guns in national parks"

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-guns23feb23,0,6348105.story

I doubt the Park Police are thrilled about the idea that those record levels of assaults on them may soon become record levels of murders and "accidental shootings."

This situation could get much, much worse before it gets any better.

[sepulveda]

3. line police officers

generally support concealed carry. administrators, ie cop-o-crats, not so much.

[moondust]

4. No they don't.

It's the line officers that end up with gunshot wounds in their bodies, not the administrators.

[sepulveda]

5. and

those gunshot wounds almost NEVER come from those with CCW's.

i spent over 20 yrs in Law Enforcement (and time as a firefighter).

i have had friends shot, and even get killed by guns.

i have been in shootouts.

and i 100% support concealed carry. as most LINE OFFICERs do.

the stats don't lie. those with CCW's are overwhelmingly less likely to commit crimes, especially with their guns.

heck, i had a partner who was fighting for her gun (a robber pulled it from her holster) and her life was saved by the storeowner who came up and shot the guy in the head.

cops (generally) support concealed carry.

admin doesn't (cause they are political appointees and have to have the same gun control stance as their overlords).

also, rangers who work in rural areas ( i spent a good part of my career working rural areas) generally like the fact that there are law abiding armed people. countryfolk can survive. i never once had a problem with any licensed gun owner and their gun while working these rural areas. and if i was on the side of the road fighting for my life/disarmed, i would prefer there be a CCW holder to help me out.

i had another coworker who was killed by a deranged naked man on crack. two local citizens had CCW's but neither got there in time to stop the guy before he killed my friend. interestingly they totally would have been legally justified in shooting the shooter as he fled, but they didn't since they didn't feel morally justified after he had emptied the weapon (they could see the slide locked back).

sorry, but it's a myth that cops don't support concealed carry.

more do than don't

[LanternWaste]

8. Since we're trading anecdotal evidence and such...

Well, the three cops I know suggest that concealed carry is more a detriment than an assistance in their jobs. Since we're trading anecdotal evidence and such...

[benEzra]

7. Licensed CHL holders are statistically less likely to commit felony assault than police officers.

FWIW, my father had a "save" with a handgun in a National Forest when I was a child (when his would-be attackers saw the gun, they stopped, backed off, and left); National Forests and BLM lands already allow the individual states to set gun policy and authorize carry by CHL holders as they see fit (and have for decades), and it has NOT been a problem.

Particularly given the reduced staffing levels, I think it's entirely reasonable to allow state-licensed individuals to be armed in remote areas.

[Breeze54]

6. Who needs park police when you can have mines and oil rigs?

:sarcasm: