Law enforcement year-end review 2007

2008·4.8 MB·English

by  United States. Bureau of Land Management

BLM LIBRARY
88066589
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of Land Management
To enhance the quality of life for all citizens through
Our Vision
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-08-004-1800
Editing, layout, and design provided by the BLM National Operations Center, Information and Publishing Services, Denver, Colorado.
DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
William Woody,
Director of Law Enforcement and Security
Their case loads, visitor woodlands, 790 Wilderness and Wilderness
contacts, law enforcement Study Areas covering 21 million acres,
partnerships, and work with 271,000 archaeological and historical sites,
local communities were 333,000 mining claims, 70,000 producing oil
all commendable efforts and gas wells, and 37,000 wild horses and
that collectively served our burros, and monitoring 93,000 rights-of-way.
mission this year.
Another ever-growing challenge to
The daily workloads of managing the public lands can be seen
Rangers and Agents may in recently conducted surveys showing
include investigating there are now roughly 60 million people
complaints involving the who enjoyed recreational opportunities
destruction and theft of on the 258 million acres of land managed
cultural and paleontological by the BLM. And today, there are 4,136
resources; marijuana communities with a population of just over
cultivation; OHV issues; oil 23 million people who live within 30 minutes
and gas issues, including of BLM-managed lands.
spills or theft; effects of
illegal immigration and The Rangers and Agents of the Bureau of
smuggling on public lands; Land Management are proud to represent
illegal dumping; wildland the law enforcement community and serve
fires; wild horse and burro the American people, and we thank you for
killings and theft; livestock your support.
trespass; forest, cactus,
In 2007, Bureau of Land Management
and rock thefts; and guiding, outfitting, and
(BLM) Rangers and Agents continued to
subsistence hunting issues.
serve their mission of protecting the public
lands, the resources found on these lands,
Rangers and Agents work closely with
and the visitors who enjoy the various
BLM resource managers, with duties that
and unique recreational opportunities
include managing 16,000 miles of multiple-
available on the public lands. There are 180
use trails, 13 National and Historic trails
uniformed BLM Rangers and 96 BLM Agents (covering 5,500 miles), 38 Wild and Scenic William C. Woody, Director
stationed in the western United States. BLM Office of Law Enforcement and Security
Rivers, 69 million acres of forests and
Law Enforcement Y e a r - E n d Review
Keith L. Aller, Deputy Director
This past year provided another year successful prosecutions in these areas
of opportunities and challenges for the next year. As for cases opened in previous
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) years, Special Agents participated in
Office of Law Enforcement and Security major cases with our Federal partners in
(OLES). The OLES formed a Marijuana the investigation of domestic terrorism
Investigative Support Team (MIST) to help organizations that led to significant
combat the spread of Drug Trafficking convictions and sentences in Federal
Organization (DTO) marijuana cultivation. courts in Oregon. BLM Special Agent
MIST members were selected from our investigations led to convictions of 20
Special Agent ranks and charged with years for marijuana cultivators in Federal
supporting marijuana investigations court in California. These are not all-
mainly in California, Oregon, and inclusive of our efforts, but highlight the
Washington. The MIST went through a great work our agents do in the field
rigorous training cycle and deployments every day.
including several multiagency operations
in California. Violence increased this
Agents also answered the call to work
past year in association with marijuana
details in various parts of the BLM to
to this issue is the recruitment, training,
growers. Several incidents involving
supplement uniformed Ranger activities, in
and retention of a vigorous and diverse
threats to public land users and armed
addition to their investigative workloads.
workforce that will be ready to step
confrontations with law enforcement
into higher levels of responsibility as
highlighted the serious nature of this
As managers and leaders of the law leadership positions are filled. The BLM
issue on public lands. The members of the
enforcement program, we are faced law enforcement organization needs to
MIST made many personal sacrifices to
with issues that require us to take a take advantage of several options in hiring
support the mission and I thank them and
long-term strategic look at what is best authorities to accomplish this goal. We
recognize their sense of public service.
for our law enforcement program. Like plan to be aggressive in recruitment and
most Federal agencies, the BLM is faced retention options.
Our Special Agents have been fully
with large numbers of senior-level
engaged in all aspects of our other
employees who will be eligible to retire This is a snapshot of our challenges
resource protection mandates, as well
within the next 3 to 5 years. The BLM from an operational and management
as the marijuana cultivation issue.
law enforcement program is also facing perspective. We are confident that we will
Special Agents in the BLM have opened
this challenge, and we have identified a meet these challenges, as we always have.
several new, extremely complex cases
process whereby emerging leaders can
involving everything from wild horse
be identified and trained. This process In closing, I express my true appreciation
and burro issues to paleontological and
includes job shadowing and leadership for the work that our Rangers and
archaeological vandalism and thefts. I
skills development rather than solely Special Agents do every day under trying
hope we can report several significant
supervisory training. An additional facet circumstances. Good job, Everyone!
2
Law Enforcement Y e a r - E n d R e v i
Jon Wesley Sering, Chief Ranger
The BLM has a relatively small force
of Rangers, with slightly more than
180 Rangers nationwide in the field,
patrolling more than 258 million
acres of public lands. Rangers deal
with a variety of issues, ranging from
violations caused by off-highway vehicle
use, investigations of wildland fires,
eradication of marijuana and drug
smuggling, vandalism and removal of
natural resources, theft of archaeological
and paleontological artifacts,
enforcement of recreation permits, and
protection of developed recreation sites.
The year has been a successful one for
the Ranger program in many ways. We
developed a new recruitment program,
In April 2007,1 was selected as enjoy the environment around me. I've
including a BLM Ranger brochure
Chief Ranger for the Bureau of Land enjoyed meeting and educating people
and an upcoming video. We are also
Management (BLM) after 30 years as who come to BLM lands to recreate—
planning outreach with colleges and
a permanent BLM employee. I began patrolling the San Juan Islands with sea
universities and will attend future job
working as an Outdoor Recreation Planner lions and orcas in Washington State,
fairs. There is an excellent cadre of
in the Riverside District in 1977-78, experiencing the diversity and challenges
Field Training Officers working with new
after earning a Master of Science degree of the tri-cultures in Taos, or patrolling in a
BLM Rangers, both from other agencies
in Geography, Wildland Recreation, Jeep Rubicon in Moab.
and graduating from the Federal Law
and Wilderness Management from the
Enforcement Training Center. Our K-9
University of Idaho. From there I moved 1 accepted the National Chief Ranger
Teams are outstanding and are sought
to Montrose, Colorado, as a Wilderness position because I believe strongly in
for national, State, and local work
Coordinator until 1989, when I switched BLM Law Enforcement Rangers and
details, as well as other special activities
careers to become the first BLM District their commitment to natural resource
outside their home States. For the first
Ranger in Montrose (only the second protection, and I wanted to give back to
time, the BLM has a full complement of
Ranger in Colorado at the time). I the Ranger program. The BLM Ranger
eleven State Staff Rangers.
accepted the State Staff Ranger position program has the best land management
in Boise, Idaho, after serving as a Ranger Law Enforcement Officers of any agency
Through training, opportunities to work
for 17 years in Montrose; Wenatchee, I have ever observed. This high quality
details in other locations, and working
Washington; Taos, New Mexico; and Moab, is due to the type of people who are
with varying and often complex resource
Utah. Starting as a seasonal Wilderness hired, the training they receive, and the
issues with a variety of resource
Ranger for the Forest Service in the commitment they have to their jobs and
specialists, the BLM Rangers are a breed
Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains, I to the land. I want to be a voice for
unto themselves.
have experienced a love of the outdoors the BLM Ranger program, give positive
throughout my career. Working as a BLM guidance, act as a mentor, and earn the
Ranger has always given me a chance to respect of the Rangers.
Law Enforcement Year-End Review 3
Laurel Pistel,
Special Agent of the Year
Special Agent Laurel Pistel has worked
2007, in addition to 885 pounds of processed
out of the Areata Field Office in Humboldt
marijuana having an estimated street value
County, California, since joining the Bureau exceeding $794 million.
of Land Management (BLM) in 1993. Agent
Pistel's tenacity and relentless pursuit of
Special Agent Pistel began the year following
suspects is second to none. She works
several leads from 2006, using a variety
tirelessly throughout the year, often longer
of technical investigative techniques. She
than 16-hour days, quietly going about her
coordinated valuable assistance from other
business. At the end of any investigation,
Special Agents and BLM Rangers to help her
several search warrants are served and assets
in her investigations. Later in the year, she
seized. Other agents often comment that
conducted ground reconnaissance to locate
her energy is hard to keep up with, and Pistel the cultivation sites and coordinated their 1
is regarded with the utmost respect by her
eradication through California's Campaign
peers.
Against Marijuana Planting. Two suspects
have been arrested and another twenty Agents, and it is critical that they learn
Humboldt County has long been notorious for
suspects have been identified throughout day-to-day investigative skills and protocols
illicit marijuana production. In the last 5 years,
northern and central California; search from a journeyman-level BLM Special Agent.
Agent Pistel has been inundated with Mexican
warrants are expected to be served before Special Agent Pistel has played an invaluable
National Drug Trafficking Organizations the end of the calendar year. role in orienting these new agents and
(DTOs) in her area of responsibility, which
helping them develop the skills that will
encompasses portions of two Field Offices.
In addition to her extreme investigative benefit them, as well as the BLM, for years to
The number of DTO-related cultivation sites
workload, Agent Pistel willingly took on the come. In both instances, Pistel provided the
has steadily increased and the number of
responsibility of mentoring two newly hired guidance, knowledge, and experience that
plants eradicated has risen accordingly, with
Special Agents. There presently is no field helped the Agents to be successful in their
more than 158,000 plants eradicated in
training program for newly hired Special work.
George Drr, Ranger of the Year
Ranger of the Year George Orr, from Burns,
The Burns District has had the worst 2 years
Oregon, is an outstanding Law Enforcement
of wildfires in its history. In 2006, a total of
Officer (LEO) with a sincere dedication to
153,000 acres were burned; in 2007, a total
serving the Burns District employees, the
of 203,000 acres were consumed by wildfires.
general public, and the people of Harney
During both years of extreme wildfires, Ranger
County. The Burns District is composed of
Orr was especially diligent and placed himself
2.5 million acres of public lands covering a
in harm's way, along with Harney County
geographic area of 10,000 square miles, and
Sheriff's Deputies, in countless emergency
is home to the largest National Landscape
evacuations of homes because of extreme and
Conservation System unit in Oregon—the
erratic wildfire behavior, which threatened
Steens Mountain Cooperative Management
life and property. U.S. Hwy 20/395—a major
and Protection Area (CMPA), designated by
artery though southeastern Oregon—was
Congress in October 2000.
closed a record number of times this past
4
Law Enforcement Y e a r - E n d Review
summer because of wildfire encroachment. the management of Special Recreation Permits value. Ranger Orr has been called on by many
In one incident, Ranger Orr had set up a and track organizations without valid permits agencies and jurisdictions for work details that
roadblock to stop a wanted individual. That from the BLM. cross organizational lines. He spent several
person ran the roadblock, clipping Orr's weeks in Fiscal Year 2007 working with U.S.
vehicle, which led to a high-speed chase and Ranger Orr has established outstanding Border Patrol Agents on the southern border.
apprehension of the suspect. relations with local law enforcement agencies.
His interaction with the U.S. Forest Service, These are some examples of how Ranger Orr
Ranger Orr has taken the time to foster good the Harney County Sheriff's Department, demonstrates courage, dedication, and honor.
relations between District employees and Oregon State Police, the Burns Paiute Tribal He has enduring stamina and the ability to go
their specific programs of responsibility. He Officers, and the local Burns and Hines Police above and beyond the call of duty to ensure
has taken an interest in the management Departments reflect the mutual respect and employee, as well as public, health and safety.
and protection of resource values, especially good working relations that are essential in He has spent long hours away from his home
within the Steens Mountain CMPA, which has the protection of public lands and resources, and family in the line of duty. He is the only
high national visibility. The CMPA includes along with the promotion of public health BLM LEO within Harney County, Oregon, with
the largest Wilderness Area in the Bureau and safety. These agencies have collaborated a range of more than 10,000 square miles.
of Land Management (BLM) in Oregon, and on many drug raids of growing operations Ranger Orr performs his job to the best of
Orr has been very active and responsive in on public lands. They captured and arrested his ability and with the resources he is given,
managing the OHV use along the wilderness illegal immigrants who were growing always with an emphasis on completing his
boundary. He has been willing to help with marijuana worth millions of dollars in street mission safely.
Perry McCdy, Ranger
Secretary’s Valor Award Reci I ENT
Former Grand Junction, Colorado, Ranger individuals who are dedicated to their
Dan "Perry" McCoy was given the Secretary's jurisdictions, their families, and their peers."
Valor Award in May 2007. Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) Ranger McCoy "BLM Rangers—and Perry McCoy is one
demonstrated unusual courage involving of the best and most dedicated—are right
a high degree of personal risk in the face there, working closely with local, State,
of danger for diffusing a hostage situation and other Federal agency law enforcement
during a dangerous investigation involving personnel, search and rescue, and wildland
drugs on public lands. firefighters," continued Woody. "McCoy
earned his colleagues' respect and trust, and
"BLM Rangers are asked to cover thousands for that there can be no greater reward."
of acres of public lands on their own,
putting their lives on the line for public lands Ranger McCoy was named the 2006 BLM
and those who use them," says BLM Law Ranger of the Year. He now works for the
Enforcement Director William Woody. "Many BLM in Wyoming.
patrol alone and are special, resourceful
Law Enforcement Year-End Review 5
Bureau of Land Management
Law Enforcement Organization
Line Authority
Total Special Agents = 96
Total Rangers = 180
12/2006
6
Law Enforcement Year-End Review
Highlights of Bureau of Land Management Law Enforcement Activities
for Fiscal Year 2007
In Fiscal Year 2007, 17,255 BLM law enforcement incidents were reported:
10,669 of those resulted in enforcement action.3
Incidents Number (except as noted)
Thefts 362
Theft Enforcement Actions 201
ARPAb or Paleontological 58
Minerals 21
Timber 103
All Other Natural Resources 55
Vandalism 590
Vandalism Enforcement Actions 208
ARPAb or Paleontological 63
All Other Natural Resources 356
Fire Incidents (Non-Arson) 710
Fire Incident Actions (Non-Arson) 597
Fire Incidents (Arson) 64
Fire Enforcement Actions 21
Off-Highway Vehicles 3,457
Off-Highway Vehicles Enforcement Actions 3,139
DUE 158
Search and Rescue 231
Drug 1,029
Drug Enforcement Actions 921
Marijuana Sale and Manufacture 126
Marijuana Possession 710
Marijuana Seizures:
Processed (in pounds) 12,990 lbs
Plants 444,315
Wild Horse and Burro 88
Hazardous Materials 83
Hazardous Materials Enforcement Actions 28
Occupancy Trespass 174
Occupancy Trespass Enforcement Actions 137
Assaults
Law Enforcement Officers 3
Government Employees Non-Law Enforcement 13
Public 14
a Enforcement Actions = Written Warning, Citation, Criminal Complaint, Arrest, Grand Jury
Indictment, Administrative or Civil Remedy
b Archaeological Resources Protection Act
c Driving Under the Influence
Law Enforcement Year-End Review 7
A r’ W A
/
r ,r o) t r
ALASKA STATE OFFICE
222 W. 7th Avenue, #13
Anchorage, AK 99513
Phone: [phone] Northern
Fax: [phone]
.QKotzebue
Nome
Fairbanks
Glennallen
Anchorage Glenn^llen
Anchorage
Juneau
SE Alaska is administered
by Anchorage Field Office
Some of the BLM-managed lands shown on this map include
A,*
lands selected for conveyance by either the State of Alaska or
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
o
Service and Fish and Wildlife Service units) BLM Field Stations
BLM National Conservation Area ■ BLM Field Office Boundaries
and comparable designations
■ Major Highways
8 Law Enforcement Year-End Review