Law enforcement year-end review 2006

2007·5.2 MB·English

by  United States. Bureau of Land Management

BLM LIBRARY
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7561
. B87
2007
Burea
of Lan anagement
, To enhance the quality of life for all citizens through
VlSWrl the balanced stewardship of America’s public lands
and resources.
To sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of
Our Mission
the public lands for the use and enjoyment of
present and future generations.
To serve with honesty, integrity, accountability,
Our Values
respect, courage, and commitment to make
a difference.
Our Priorities To improve the health and productivity of the land
to support the BLM multiple-use mission.
To cultivate community-based conservation,
citizen-centered stewardship, and partnership
through consultation, cooperation, and
communication.
To respect, value, and support our employees,
giving them resources and opportunities to succeed.
To pursue excellence in business practices,
improve accountability to our stakeholders,
and deliver better service to our customers.
For more information, contact the Office of Law Enforcement and Security. BLM-WO-GI-07-003-1800
Editing, layout, and design provided by the 15LM National Science and Technology Center, Branch of Publishing Services, Denver, Colorado.
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DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
'William, 'W'Qodj,
BLM management. BFM and the U.S. Forest Service
On these lands, of the looting and theft of archaeo¬
18,006 incidents were logical sites led to the serving of
reported to BLM 26 search warrants, the recovery of
law enforcement more than 100,00 artifacts, and the
personnel, of which prosecution of seven suspects.
10,400 enforcement
actions were taken by Multiple investigations in the west¬
Rangers and Agents. ern States by municipal, County,
County Sheriff’s State, and Federal law enforcement
Departments, State personnel have led to the seizure of
Police and Highway nearly 400,000 marijuana plants
Patrol Agencies, on BLM-managed lands. Suspects
enforcement branches armed with assault rifles, booby
of various State traps, chemicals, and lethal pes¬
departments of ticides have been found in these
natural resources, locations. Investigations into the
and other Federal law dumping of residential and com¬
enforcement agencies mercial trash on public lands were
handled many successfully prosecuted more fre¬
calls dealing with quently in 2006 than ever before.
enforcement issues on
public lands. The above-mentioned cases are
only a small portion of the work
Investigations and done not only by BFM Agents
prosecutions involv¬ and Rangers but many other law
In 2006, The Bureau of Land ing public lands and resources in enforcement agencies that unself¬
Management’s (BLM) Law 2006 included a joint investiga¬ ishly protect the public and make
Enforcement Rangers and Agents tion led by the Justice Department our public lands safe.
continued their dedicated efforts to involving the 65-count indictment
protect the visitors who enjoy the of 11 environmental extremists
many recreational opportunities involving arson and destruction of
found on the more than 258 Federal, State, and private proper¬
million acres of public lands under ties. A joint investigation by the
Law Enforcement Year-End Review 1
\KpitL S. Sitter, Ibtynhj rbirtctor
It has been another interesting and
productive year for the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) Office
of Law Enforcement and Security.
Our Special Agents have been
busy with the full spectrum of
issues that come with a resource
protection agency.
Marijuana cultivation on BLM-
managed public lands has risen
dramatically in the past 3 years. As
of October 2006, 368,000 plants
had been seized that had at least a
month left in the growing season.
The projected seizures for this year
will be well over 400,000 plants.
This number represents a huge
increase over previous years.
trace ownership to these lands, in the ecological balance of the
Historically, marijuana has been contrast with private lands. public lands and very expensive to
cultivated on public lands by local remediate. Conservative estimates
residents, mainly in Oregon, Wash¬ These DTOs have begun to from the National Park Service
ington, and California. This para¬ spread eastward to Idaho, Arizona, show the cost as $10,000 per acre
digm saw a dramatic shift in 2004. Utah, and as far east as Tennessee, to restore these areas and remove
Cultivation of marijuana on public Kentucky, and North Carolina. In trash and chemicals.
lands has been taken over by Mexi¬ many States there are documented
can Drug Trafficking Organizations instances of public lands users The BLM is actively engaged with
(DTOs). These DTOs smuggle being threatened and even shot Department of the Interior and
illegal aliens across the international at because they were near the U.S. Forest Service partners in
border with Mexico and transport growing marijuana gardens. There trying to identify and eradicate
them to locations mainly in Cali¬ are documented cases of marijuana marijuana cultivation operations.
fornia, Oregon, and Washington. gardens with as many as 17,000 The BLM also works with the
The DTOs leave their illegal alien plants in one location and gardens Office of National Drug Control
“workers” in the marijuana gardens, being planted and cultivated very Policy, which funds a small
arm them with rifles, and give them close to residential areas bordering portion of our efforts. The BLM
very specific instructions to guard public lands. works with local Sheriff’s Offices,
the gardens at all costs. Garden granting funds and utilizing
“bosses” routinely supply the work¬ These DTO-sponsored marijuana personnel to try to eradicate
ers with food and other essentials cultivation operations present a marijuana. Sheriff’s Offices are
and the workers are not allowed to very clear and immediate danger to acutely aware of the problem and
leave under any circumstances until public lands agency employees and are vital to this effort. The Drug
the garden is harvested. The DTOs users of public lands. Every acre Enforcement Administration
prefer public lands, including U.S. that is used by these organizations and State Police agencies are an
Forest Service- and National Park is an acre that cannot be managed important part of our efforts, and
Service-administered lands, because by the responsible agencies. The the BLM coordinates with these
they know they are not frequently chemicals used as pesticides and agencies at national and local levels
visited and there is not a way to fertilizer are a serious threat to in the investigation of DTOs.
2 Law Enforcement Year-End Review
drugs and alcohol, environmental
degradation, and rowdy and unsafe
behavior were noticeably reduced
in some of the key areas.
Illegal dumping of household,
commercial, construction,
landscaping, and hazardous
waste continues to be a growing
problem that Rangers are called
upon to investigate because of the
continued expansion of the public
lands urban interface.
Six newly hired BLM Rangers
completed the Land Management
Police Training at the Federal Law
Enforcement Training Center
(FLETC) in Glynco, Georgia,
The year 2006 was again boughs used in floral decorations, alongside new Rangers and Officers
productive for the Rangers of the and native desert plants popular in from other land management
Bureau of Land Management landscaping. With the significant agencies including the U.S. Fish
(BLM). Rangers continued to increase in the cultivation of and Wildlife Service, National Park
focus their efforts on a variety of marijuana on public lands this Service, U.S. Forest Service, and
issues including managing high year, Rangers are also working National Marine Fisheries Service.
levels of off-highway vehicle use in closely with Special Agents in the Several of the BLM graduates
some of the more popular areas, eradication and cleanup of the were recognized for exceptional
protecting cultural and historical grow areas. achievement in academic, driving,
resources and sites, monitoring the firearms, and physical fitness
compliance of adopted wild horses Throughout the year, Ranger proficiency. For the first time in
and burros and ensuring that efforts were focused on Bureau¬ the history of the BLM, one of our
adoptions run smoothly, working wide priority high-use recreation graduates received the prestigious
to reduce the negative effects on areas and events. By teaming up FLETC Director’s Award.
public land resources resulting with County Sheriff’s Deputies
from smuggling activity along the and using a combination of public I express my personal thanks
southern international border, education and management to each of the Rangers for
and preventing theft and damage tactics, the number of incidents their continued hard work and
of timber and a variety of native involving the operation of vehicles commitment to protecting the
vegetation, including moss, tree while under the influence of public lands and resources.
Law Enforcement Year-End Review 3
In fiscal year 2006, Law Enforce¬ piece of paper located in a dump
ment Ranger Curtis Toovey pile by Ranger Toovey resulted in
investigated and brought to trial the indictment of an individual for
13 large-scale, unauthorized com¬ eight separate commercial dumping
mercial dumping cases. These cases sites and a pending monetary fine of
involved the illegal dumping of $40,000.
commercial debris on the public
lands within the Palm Springs (Cali¬ Recently, Riverside County formed
fornia) South Coast Field Office. a local task force to apprehend illegal
The elaborate casework performed commercial dumpers. The format
by Ranger Toovey resulted in a 93% used by the District Attorney’s
conviction rate. Ranger Toovey Office to investigate these cases
worked directly with Stephanie and prepare reports was taken from
Weisman, Environmental Crimes Ranger Toovey’s former cases. His
Attorney, Riverside County (Cali¬ investigations formed the template
fornia) District Attorney’s Office, for this task force. Additionally, on investigation of violations of the
and Sharon McCaslin, Assistant Ranger Toovey was called upon on Wild Horse and Burro Act. He pres¬
U.S. Attorney, Central Division, several occasions by the District ently has four cases, one of which
on these cases. These cases involved Attorney’s Office to take the lead in has resulted in the identification of
the illegal dumping of construction investigating commercial dump sites eight suspects and the issuance of
material—including concrete, as adjacent to public lands. The Envi¬ five mandatory appearance citations
well as household utilities, build¬ ronmental Protection Agency solic¬ into Federal Court. Ranger Toovey
ing materials, demolition materi¬ ited Ranger Toovey’s participation has also filed several complaints with
als, abandoned vehicles, petroleum in an interagency Federal task force the District Attorney’s Office for
products, vegetative materials, and with Riverside County to investigate violations of weapons laws.
other large debris. Ranger Toovey’s illegal commercial dumping on tribal
diligence in following single-source lands. Unfortunately, Ranger Toovey Ranger Toovey’s investigation skills,
evidence through several contractors had to leave this task force when he diligence in identifying suspects and
or vendors resulted in complete law was reassigned to the western part of evidence for prosecution, reorgani¬
enforcement casework, leading to the County to investigate increased zation of excellence from the Dis¬
the filing of complaints in State and dumping on the public lands. trict Attorney’s and U.S. Attorney’s
Federal courts against commercial offices, and ability and knowledge
enterprises or individuals involved In addition to the investigation of to move from one complex resource
in commercial construction or illegal commercial dumping cases, management case to another are
landscaping. In one case, a single Ranger Toovey recently has taken outstanding.
4 Law Enforcement Year-End Review
Special Simd tkt year
than 26 Federal search warrants Attorney’s Office. In July 2006,
served, dozens of suspects Special Agent Shrader began
identified, and hundreds of coordinating the investigation
thousands of artifacts recovered so of a large, outdoor marijuana
far. In 2006, 11 suspects pleaded growing operation sponsored
guilty to a variety of Federal by a foreign drug cartel. After
charges, including conspiracy, building trust at the local level
violations of the Archaeological with the Grant County Sheriff’s
Resources Protection Act, and Department, Special Agent Shrader
violations of the Native American set up organized and coordinated
Graves Protection and Repatriation interagency BLM and Sheriff drug
Act (NAGPRA). This investigation surveillance teams for Operation
resulted in the first criminal Garden Party. As a result of
conviction of NAGPRA in the Special Agent Shrader’s diligence
Pacific Northwest. In addition, and outstanding investigative
In fiscal year 2006, Special Agent
several other significant criminal work, three armed male suspects
Dennis Shrader was responsible for
activities were uncovered, including were arrested and indicted. In
several criminal investigations of
two methamphetamine labs, addition, a residence used as a base
significance in Oregon-Washington.
an indoor marijuana growing of operations for the crime was
operation, and multiple wildlife searched and warrants for arrests
Since 2003, Special Agent Shrader
poaching cases. In making this have been issued for additional
has been the lead for this Bureau
investigation, Special Agent Shrader suspects.
of Land Management (BLM)
brought together the investigative
criminal investigation in Operation
assistance of Federal, State, and On August 23, 2006, BLM fire¬
Bring’Em Back. A long-term,
local agencies, including the U.S. fighters reported observing two sub¬
complex, undercover operation
Attorney’s Office; U.S. Forest jects purposely lighting fires behind
targeting the unlawful removal,
Service; Internal Revenue Service; a fire crew. Fearing for their safety,
theft, and trafficking of Native
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and the fire crew was forced to evacuate
American human remains and
Firearms; Drug Enforcement the area. An ongoing arson investi¬
cultural artifacts, it ranks as the
Administration; Oregon State gation, now coordinated by Special
most successful in the BLM. Still
Police—Wildlife Division; and Agent Shrader, has assisted in the
ongoing, this operation has more
the Deschutes County District arrest of two local men.
Law Enforcement Year-End Review 5
Bureau of Land Management
Law Enforcement Organization
Line Authority
Total Special Agents = 56
Total Rangers = 192
12/2006
6 Law Enforcement Year-End Review
Highlights of Bureau of Land Management Law Enforcement Activities
for Fiscal Year 2006
Incidents Number (except as noted)
Thefts 430
Theft Enforcement Actions 200
ARPA or Paleontological 71
Minerals 38
Timber 104
All Other Natural Resources 78
Vandalism 676
Vandalism Enforcement Actions 272
ARPA or Paleontological 47
All Other Natural Resources 447
Fire Incidents (Non-Arson) 666
Fire Incidents Actions (Non-Arson) 582
Fire Incidents (Arson) 109
Fire Enforcement Actions 14
Off-Highway Vehicles 3,414
Off-Highway Vehicles Enforcement Actions 3,076
DUI 141
Search and Rescue 260
Drug 836
Drug Enforcement Actions 723
Marijuana Sale and Manufacture 138
Marijuana Possession 546
Marijuana Seizures:
Processed (in pounds) 7,580 lb
Plants 368,927
Wild Horse and Burro 140
Hazardous Materials 93
Hazardous Materials Enforcement Actions 47
Occupancy Trespass 211
Occupancy Trespass Enforcement Actions 160
Assaults
Law Enforcement Officers 8
Government Employees Non-Law Enforcement 14
Public 21
Archaeological Resources Protection Act
^Driving Under the Influence
Enforcement Actions = Written Warning, Citation, Criminal Complaint, Arrest, Grand Jury
Indictment, Administrative or Civil Remedy
Law Enforcement Year-End Review 7
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ALASKA STATE OFFICE
222 W. 7th Avenue, #13
Anchorage, AK 99313 Northern
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone] .QKotzebue
Nome
Fairbanks
Slennallen
Anchorage Glennallen
Anchorage
Juneau
’ 7.« WL.y*-. SE Alaska is administered
by Anchorage Field Office
.■ 7 . ii ^4iv M ■
‘
Some of the BLM-managed lands shown on this map include
lands selected for conveyance by either the State of Alaska or
<3
various Alaska Native corporations, as authorized by the
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and other legislation.
BLM-managed lands ♦ BLM State Office
BLM-administered minerals underlying • BLM Field Offices
Federal surface (excluding National Park
Service and Fish and Wildlife Service units) o BLM Field Stations
BLM National Conservation Area ■ BLM Field Office Boundaries
and comparable designations
■ Major Highways
8 Law Enforcement Year-End Review