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Show tw THE ZEPHYR AUGUST 89 ranger at the South Rim for two years, and Is a shift supervisor there I rode with Mike on one of his patrols last winter; In the span of Just a few hours, he arrested a visitor, charged with driving under the Influence, broke up a fight at the Bright Angel Lodge, and Investigated a vehicle break-i- n at the El Tovar. But at the same time he was on stand-b- y alert a lot for a woman who was FPQtfi than nine months pregnant, and who warned rangers she could go Into labor at a moment's notice. He also spotted a dumpster fire and polled In the parks pumper unit to put It out So no matter how specialized the skills of a law enforcement ranger might be, he or she still faces a .variety of other responsibilities that the traditional ranger has long expected. The split Image was clearly demonstrated recently at Grand Canyon when Ranger Meyer made a routine car stop. Meyer had stopped a vehicle for speeding, near the south entrance. Meyer obtained the drivers license and ran both the license number and the plate number through the dispatch office and a nationwide law enforcement computer system. The Information that came back from the computer Indicated that the car was stolen. Meyer took action Immediately. Through the vehicles PA system, he ordered the driver and occupant out of the car. With his weapon drawn, he Instructed both men to place their hands behind their head and drop to their knees. Meyer had requested backup assistance and was preparing to cuff the two subjects when a car coming In the opposite direction pulled off the road. Its driver got out, holding something In his hand. To Meyer, this was a critical situation. He had Just discovered a stolen car. He knew nothing of the occupants, he didnt know If they were armed or if they had a criminal record. And now another car had arrived on the scene, and Its driver was heading straight for him. The man extended his right arm. He was holding a park brochure. "Excuse me, he said, "but how for are we from Bright Angel Lodge? "Sir, Mike responded, "Get back In your car. "But this will only take a minute, the tourist Insisted. "Sir! Get back In your damn car and get out of here! Finally the man sensed the gravity of the situation, noting for the first time the drawn revolver, and the two men on their knees. Hs returned to his vehicle and drove away. And there was Ranger Mike Meyer, trying to be a cop and a friendly ranger - at the same time. At smaller national parks and monuments, crime Is usually not a serious problem at alL The violations that occur are most often resource violations ad Illegal camping, disturbing plant or animal Ufa, graffiti, Infractions that damage the park resource, but do not foil under travel the violent crime category. It rarely requires the use of force by rangers to enforce such rules. At Arches, there Is no Indication that a felony has ever been made In Its 60 year history. One person was arrested In 1981, for Illegally entering a locked motor home, but charges were reduced to a misdemeanor. But because the Park Service has standardized Its law enforcement guidelines nationwide, a debate has ' arisen whether Its "profile Is too d. In some of the quieter park areas. Some visitors have of armed about the rangers collecting camp fees, or complained sight w i patrolling the trails. Tony Schetzsle Is the Chief Park Ranger at Canyonlands National Park and Its law enforcement coordinator. Schetzsle has witnessed a change In the National Park Services attitude toward Its law enforcement program over the .years. A lot of latitude was given to managers as the (law enforcement) program was evolving. NPS-- fl (the document that covers NPS guidelines In law enforcement) has been revised and updated, and basically It says that were training rangers to do law enforcement In all types of experiences. We train them to perform In high profile, high Incident areas, and at the same time, we ask them to be versatile enough that If they go to another park that doesnt have that kind of problem, they can make the adjustment They have to make those adjustments. Sometimes, however, It Is difficult to make that kind of change and the shift can almost lead to a sort of Identity crisis. According to Schetzsle: "Some people do have a stigma, but I think Ifs self made. And I also think If sup to management, the people who Implement these programs In the park, to take a look at what people are doing, and see that adjustments are made. "When you work here, all your Infractions are petty offenses; then you go to Hot Springs National Park, where Ifs exclusive Jurisdiction, where the Park Service Is the only law enforcement entity, I worked homicides, rapes, burglaries, bank robberies. The key Is, If I'm armed and out In the field, the manner In which I conduct If I make a show of It, It can myself makes the difference. But we do create that (high profile) Image that youve talked about I thafs not the profile want to see. I'd ranger work, not police work react to a situation In a professional to like to see rangers be able loweat-a- y msiMisr, to gain compliance with rules and regulaHona, In the manner possible. If we have to escalate, we can,- but by the same token, If Ifs Inappropriate to be at that level, we better tone back. There Is another concern, sometimes raised by critics of the Park Services law enforcement program. Rangers who work In these small parks, with minimum training and very little pratical experience, are not prepared In tact an armed ranger with the to handle a crisis If It did arise. authority but not the skill to deal with a potentially dangerous situation could make the risk even greater. What can the Park Service do to lessen that risk? Tony Schetzsle: can remember my first law enforcement contact at Glen Canyon. If my supervisor hadn't been there, things would have gotten out of hand. Ifs very Important that we watch these people, and work with them, and develop these skills. Playing parent for adults, where you have the legal If authority to do what youre doing, can be a frightening situation. If you you're not prepared to handle It, you shouldn't be doing It; or be It shouldn't It, doing don't have someone supporting you through you Do park rangers need more law enforcement training to carry out their responsibilities? "There are about 40 hours (the refresher training) that are can tailor for the parks, that we can set the tone for the parks, and tailor tor our As far1 as the Initial training, Individual needs. We have that option. But that goes through constant revision and thafs an structured. modification too, the 40 hour training gives us the opportunity to meet needs as they Identify them. . off-ro- - - PAGE25 In the final analysis, according to Schetzsle, "life, health, safety, and protection of the: resource, are the ultimate responsibilities of the Park Ranger. The Park Service believes that It Is necsssary and possible for Its employees to be both friendly ranger and cop. It Is a difficult balancing act, and Ifs unclear whether the Park Service Is losing employees who are excellent rangers, but lousy policemen. It Is definitely the responsibility of each law enforcement ranger and the managers that supervise them to see that the approach he or she takes In the protection of a park area Is and appropriate. . 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