2018 Highlights of NPS Investigative Services Branch

News and Adventure from Glacier National Park

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 Yellowstone National Park:

On the morning of January 16, 2018, park staff discovered 52 bison, held at the Stephens Creek facility for possible quarantine, had been released from the pens. US Park Rangers and ISB Special Agents opened a criminal investigation of the incident and park staff worked to locate and recapture the bison. The bison were being held and tested for brucellosis at Stephens Creek as part of a plan being considered to establish a quarantine program in support of augmenting or establishing new conservation and cultural herds of disease-free plains bison. The program would also enhance cultural and nutritional opportunities for Native Americans, reduce the shipment of Yellowstone bison to meat processing facilities, and conserve a viable, wild population. The Stephens Creek facility is closed permanently to the public.

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
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