MARK A. WARNER omar ‘amr FINANCE URBAN AFFAIRS nited States Senate supcer WASHINGTON, O¢ 20510-4608 WWTELUGENCE RULES AND ADMINISTRATION October 19, 2018 ‘The Honorable Dan Smith Acting Director National Park Service 1849 C Street NW Washington, DC 20240 Dear Acting Director Smith: I write regarding measures the National Park Service (NPS) and the U.S. Park Police are taking to strengthen police-community relations. U.S. Park Police officers play an integral role in performing crime prevention, investigation, and apprehension functions in areas of Northern ‘Virginia that are under their jurisdiction. In your role of overseeing U.S Park Police operations and budget, | urge you to consider implementing tools and policies that will improve officers’ ability to effectively and safely do their job of protecting visitors and resources within the ‘National Park lands that they serve, In recent years with the proliferation of camera phones, an increased focus on pol ‘community relations has sparked broader conversations about racial profiling, implicit bias, and the mutual trust needed to foster strong relationships between law enforcement officers and the communities they protect. As a result of protests and increased public pressure, police departments across the country have started to undertake reforms through the implementation of new training and departmental policy changes to strengthen ties with their communities through increasing transparency and accountability. Some jurisdictions have expanded the use of body cameras and dashboard cameras to address these concems. Others have pushed for a renewed focus on efforts like community policing. ‘The U.S. Park Police serves three major geographical areas in the United States, including the regions in and around the District of Columbia (encompassing large portions of Northern Virginia), New York City and San Francisco. To better understand how the U.S. Park Police has addressed police-community relations in recent years and how they perceive their mission, I respectfully request answers to the following questions: * According to news reports, in a 2015 memo U.S. Park Police Chief Robert MacLean expressly told officers not to use any audio or video recorders while on duty, citing the lack of a department-wide policy for body cameras.' " Miranda Green, Park Police officers were forbidden from wearing body cameras: memo, The Hill, April 25, 2018, hupsi/‘thehil.com/policy‘eneray- '8R4-park-police-officers-were-forbidden-Irom-wearing-body-‘© Since 2015, has the U.S. Park Police developed and implemented a department-wide policy for body and dashboard cameras? If so, can you provide my office with the written policy? ‘© Ifthe U.S. Park Police does not currently have a department-wide policy for use of body and/or dashboard cameras, can you explain why not and what challenges exist to developing such a policy? © As Acting Director, do you support the use of body and dashboard cameras by U.S. Park Police in the future? © Ifso, will you prioritize funding and implementation of body and dash camera policies? Can you provide a timeline for implementation? * Training & Protocol ‘© Can you provide written documents and any relevant training manuals related to U.S. Park Police pursuit and use-of-force policies? © Can you provide information on how U.S. Patk Police are trained in implementing these protocols, including the nature and frequency of training? © Can you provide details about Memoranda of Understanding with local law enforeement agencies that also patrol areas within or adjacent to U.S. Park Police jurisdiction? In particular, can you share official procedures for U.S. Park Police authority in jurisdictions where local law enforcement has primary jurisdiction? If possible, please share copies of current Memoranda of Understanding that you have with local law enforcement agencies in the Northern Virginia region. * Historical Data: © Can you provide data for the past twenty years that detail the number of incidents where U.S. Park Police were involved in police shootings and/or discharged a firearm during interaction with a citizen? Please also include whatever background information as is possible on the nature of the incidents and their outcomes. ‘© If possible, can you provide this data for all National Park Service law enforcement ofiicers more broadly? look forward to hearing back from you with this information by November 1, 2018. It is my sincere hope that, by working together, we can continue to improve on the ways in which the NPS and the U.S. Park Police serve Virginians. Sincerely, Mk © Mane, MARK R. WARNER United States Senator