Editor's note: This updates with Mr. Crosson's clarification Friday that half of the NPS law enforcement force were from the U.S. Park Police.
A contingent of nearly two dozen National Park Service rangers and U.S. Park Police officers heading to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota are going at the request of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.
Tom Crosson, the Park Service's chief spokesman in Washington, D.C., said late Thursday that the tribe on January 30 "passed a resolution formally requesting support from Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement to assist with public safety and cleanup efforts on SRST land."
"In an effort to mitigate losses of critical resources on other tribal lands, Acting Secretary of the Interior Kevin Haugrud has directed the temporary deployment of personnel from across the department, including 22 National Park Service law enforcement and emergency services staff (and U.S. Park Police officers), to support the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council’s ongoing effort to maintain safety, monitor access, and support clean up and other tribal efforts on the reservation," Mr. Crosson said in a prepared statement.
The Park Service operation is pulling law enforcement rangers from throughout the agency's Midwest Region. The rangers are scheduled to arrive on Sunday and remain on site until March 6, according to a deployment document obtained by the Traveler.
The rangers were requested to arrive in marked patrol vehicles, and to bring tactical gear ranging from gas masks and riot gear to rifles, protective vests, and night vision goggles.
Comments
Rangers have been called to assist BIA LE operations many times in the past. BIA officers are DOI, NPS Rangers are DOI and have a standing agreement for mutual aid request.
http://www.yesmagazine.org/people-power/how-to-contact-the-17-banks-fund...
How to Contact the 17 Banks Funding the Dakota Access Pipeline
Here are CEO names, emails, and phone numbers--because banks have choices when it comes to what projects they give loans to.
they are already being paid...it is a transfer or reassignment. It is not a new hire.
My question is whether their pay is coming out of the NPS budget or some other agency.
it a shame what has been happening to the pipeline protesters and the police should be jailed .to hold peaceful protest is a constitutional right making up fake charges and arresting people shouting them with rubber bullets causing injuries. Trespassing on their land. Read the treaty and honor it and run your pipeline away from there these billionaire oil guys can do that no problem . They should be so ashamed. The tribes need help congress needs to step up stop this horrible crimes committed by police all for a oil co and because this president buddy's want more money he'll he might still have stock I bet which is against the law to isn't there a yone who can do what is right or have enough guts to stop trump. What a tragic situation for all of us when that pipeline leaks shame on all of them
i know this is just ttally random thought, but... is it possible, in light of trumps war against parks, and environment etc that perhaps the nation called them there To work together to protect the environment in some way?
Im just saying cuz, aren't park wardens number one priority keeping the land and animals safe...
Tammy, it is the protesters that are trespassing on and destroying private property, not the other way around. If they were protesting on the reservation, nobody would have an issue (at least not with the protests)
For mags - could you elaborate on trumps "war against parks". What exactly has he done that reflects was against parks?
No, it's Army Corp of Engineers land in question, it's technically government land.