Having served with the National Park Service, Woodstock Early Bird sadly posts this grim news about a fellow ranger lost today across the country in Mount Rainier National Park. The Park Service is a close-knit agency with rangers working all over the country, criss-crossing paths between assignments. It is likely that friends and colleagues here may have worked with this individual. Since Woodstock is host to Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Park we share this with the community as a way to let them know of an incident which is likely to affect many — even from a distance:
Park Ranger
Margaret Anderson
United States Department of the Interior – National Park Service, U.S. Government
End of Watch: Sunday, January 1, 2012
Bio &Incident Details
Age: 34
Tour: Not available
Badge # Not available
Cause: Gunfire
Location: Washington
Incident Date: 1/1/2012
Weapon: Rifle
Suspect: At large
Park Ranger Margaret Anderson was shot and killed while executing a felony stop near the Longmire Ranger Station in Mount Rainier National Park just before 11:00am.
The suspect had been stopped by another officer near the Paradise Ranger Station, but fled before being stopped again by Ranger Anderson. The suspect opened fire, fatally striking Ranger Anderson.
After being shot, Ranger Anderson radioed for help as the suspect fled on foot. Officers attempting to reach Ranger Anderson were held at bay for approximately three hours as the suspect continued to fire on them.
Ranger Anderson is survived by her husband and two young children.
Please contact the following agency to send condolences or to obtain funeral arrangements:
Steve Shackelton, Associate Director for Visitor and Resource Protection
United States Department of the Interior – National Park Service
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240
Phone: (202) 208-6843
WEB notes that up until 2010 people carrying loaded guns were not allowed in National Parks. For more on the federal law that was changed to follow state law with regards to guns in the parks.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35484383/ns/us_news-life/t/new-law-allows-loaded-guns-national-parks/
Julia Carlisle
Woodstock Early Bird 