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Show PAGE 24 THE ZEPHYRAUGUST 89 r the NFS Law Enforcement-i2 part , ' v3 by Jim Stiles thi summer of 1926, Zeke Johnson was the National Park Service Zeke custodian and sols caretaker of Natural Bridges National Monument. from discovered that Slpapu Bridge had been grafltled by some Initial-carvB landing. He later filed this report: In Assaults on rangers have risen 177 ' percent from 31 In 1986 to 86 In 1988, and recently the National Park Service Rangers were ordered to start carrying .357 magnum revolvers replacing the old that were used for many years. The role of law enforcement has evolved slowly over many decades. Little emphasis was placed on specialized law enforcement training until the early 1970s. A near riot at Stoneman Meadows In Yosemlte In 1970 and the shooting death by poachers of a ranger at PL Reyes National Seashore In 1973 caused ers A group of boys was going out to the bridges from BlancDng, and I told not to scratch their names on rocks Inside the Monument One man who them went along with the boys (I shall call him John Doe) told his boy that that man Zeke Johnson had no police authority over those rocks, and he and his son wrote their names on top of Slpapu Bridge and dug It doepi Well of course I explained the law and told him to get back out and rub It off and he told me to go "places. The Invitation to go some place was repeated several times, and I found It necessary to write to the director of national parks In Washington, D.C. The defendant got a letter telling him that unless he Immediately complied with Custodian Johnsons Instructions he would have a free ride at his own expense from B landing to Washington, D.(X, to be arraigned before the U. S. Government He soon hunted me up and asked what he should do. I said Just do as I told you, track back out there and take off those Initials. He offered me twenty bucks If I would do It, but I told him nobody could do It but him, and It was a five-dhorseback trip In those days. Since then he has been a help to me. rs Several have been caught, and when they tried to lobby with me I Just told them to step across the street and talk with Mr. John Doe. I cant give you chapter and verse, but the law Is very plain, and I am obliged to enforce It. at Slpapu Bridge. Initial-carve- rs .38-caHb- ers : ay Initial-cutte- , ' K In the spring of 1989, rangers from Lake Mead National Recreation Area filed this memorandum after an Incident that occurred there: On March 4, 1989, at approximately 1200 hrs. Lake Mead dispatch received a call that there was a man pointing a gun at passing motorists at the Intersection of Lakeshore and Northshore Rds. Ranger Bob Judkins arrived and found Brent Miller standing by the side of the road. Upon at Judkins. Judkins noticing Judkins Miller pointed his 9mm seml-au- to backed off and waited for additional Rangers Tom Valenta and Cliff Spencer arrived and advanced on Miller. Both rangers were armed with shotguns. As Valenta approached Miller he help. waived his weapon In the air and stated "I wont go back to prisonl. At this moment a vehicle passed around Valent and started towards Miller. Miller pointed his weapon at the car. The driver realized he was In danger, and backed his car to where Valenta had parked his patrol car. Miller then pointed his weapon at Valenta. Valenta backed up to the back of his patrol Miller continued to advance on Valenta. car. When Miller was approximately 5 feet In front of Valentas patrol car Valenta shot him one Miller died Instantly. Miller was shot In the time with his shotgun. lower abdomen. Miller had the weapon strapped to his hand and was wanted for murder In Wyoming. , self-examina- . i i i Since March, Park Rangers have shot and killed two more persons In Incidents at Lake Mead and Canyon de Chelly National Monument In Arizona. The three .fetal shootings are the first by rangers In the history of law the National Park Service. Clearly the role of enforcement has changed In some national parks, at least,' since the days when Zeke Johnson went after 73-y- ear a critical by the National Park Service of Its .law, enforcement program. Rangers exercising law enforcement responsibility were eventually required to receive hundreds of hours of Initial training as well as yearly refresher courses. Recently, It became mandatory for all law. enforcement rangers to carry their sldearms at all times when on patroL The problem Is, law. enforcement concerns vary greatly from one park to the next Some parks experience a felony every day of the week. Others are still waiting for their first felony violation to occur after fifty or sixty years as a park. At Grand Canyon National Park, which entertains more than five million visitors every year, crime problems resemble those of a small city. Homicides, suicides, robbery and theft, assault and drug related crimes are all problems that have occurred at the park. Felony arrests occur regularly. Mike Meyer, formerly a ranger at Arches, has been a law enforcement tion ' main street broiler 606 so. main 259-590- 8 espresso, pasta salads lunch specials gourmet burgers vegie sandwiches 8 am - 3 pm 5 pm 10 pm mon. - sat. : 577 Moab, Utah 84532 P.O. Box U.SJV. 801259-859- 4 800874-448- 3 -- summer clearance mountain bike accessories carl rappe Due to popular demand, am returning my upper lip to its normal appearance. am currently in the wino stage I I THE BEST OF THE VEST! 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