2018 Highlights of NPS Investigative Services Branch
A few weeks ago the Investigative Services Branch of the National Park Service published its annual report, which recaps significant cases, operations, awards and recognitions, and other noteworthy events that happened in the program throughout the year.
ISB Special Agents investigate complex, sensitive, and/or long-term cases of all types of crimes that occur across the National Park System, and work closely with US Park Rangers in the field every day. Investigations include crimes of violence, major property crimes, fraud, embezzlement, major resource violations, drug cultivation, and other incidents. Agents investigate new cases to multi-year investigations, and from isolated incidents to crimes spanning multiple agencies and nations.
The report shows that there is much more going on within our national parks than most citizens probably realize. For example, the report notes this investigation in Great Smoky Mountains National Park:
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
ISB Special Agents investigate complex, sensitive, and/or long-term cases of all types of crimes that occur across the National Park System, and work closely with US Park Rangers in the field every day. Investigations include crimes of violence, major property crimes, fraud, embezzlement, major resource violations, drug cultivation, and other incidents. Agents investigate new cases to multi-year investigations, and from isolated incidents to crimes spanning multiple agencies and nations.
The report shows that there is much more going on within our national parks than most citizens probably realize. For example, the report notes this investigation in Great Smoky Mountains National Park:
In August 2017, a resource management employee located a handgun in the forest where the Chimney Top fire had burned in 2016. A US Park Ranger hiked with the employee to the area where the gun was located, and found several small fragments of bone. ISB Special Agents initiated an investigation and worked with the state medical examiner's office to do a more thorough search of the area where they located more remains. Investigators worked leads to positively identify the deceased and the manner of death. An abandoned vehicle was located in the area where the remains were found in 2009. Items found inside the vehicle were still located in evidence and matched items found on the scene, including the handgun. Investigators sent remains and familial DNA to be tested for the registered owner of the vehicle and received a match. The manner of death is believed to be suicide.The report also provides follow-ups to a few news items we've reported on in the past few years. To read the full report, please click here.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
