Quotes from the South: "He's a few sandwiches short of a picnic basket"

This Sunday, as the neighboring church bells rang throughout the morning, we began tackling the new LE Office. Organizing this is the clearest representation of what it means to put an LE unit together. Boxes fill the space, miscellaneous, leftover items from the previous users get in the way, gear returns and exchanges must be made, EMS supplies are needed, and everything from markers to proper gear racks must be bought. But it’s less of a challenge than a chance to make it perfect, which this division takes steps towards every day.

In our down time, Erin and I watched trainings on the GAP Analysis, which highlights the importance of understanding the reasons behind officer involved shootings, and advocates for policy change and more readily available emotional support throughout an officer’s career. The type of support an officer receives following a shooting of any kind can make or break their ability to continue their career. Chief Byrnes and I sat down over coffee to share advice and talk about his experience in the park service, his past in archaeology, his transition into a Chief position, and his excitement for the upcoming future of this park.

At Charles Pinckney (CHPE), I got a look at the Hurricane Preparedness Plan, involving tons of plastic wrap, sand bags, and artifact evacuation, carefully matched with specific tasks for each department. Inside the curatorial building, we talked about the significance in such an artifact-centered park. Without clearer records, and with a regular influx of donations, it’s hard to identify and properly catalog artifacts to determine if, and how, they should be displayed, especially when only one person is charged with handling the entire inventory. One lesson I learned about both LE and proper care and representation of artifacts, is that without these vital departments, serious park problems only gain attention once they become a crisis. The best plans we can make going forward are those that stop the crisis before it begins and come from the support of proper staff.

Later in the week, we toured the aquarium neighboring Liberty Square, which shares a perimeter in our jurisdiction. Besides being able to enjoy sea otters and jellyfish, we were able to foster a better connection with our neighbors who are the first to call in if they see anything suspicious in Liberty Square, and offer access to their security cameras when needed.

The week ended with Remembrance Day, an annual Gullah-Geechee celebration remembering and honoring those who lost their lives in the Middle Passage from Africa to the east coast.  They began with a vibrant guest speaker and slowly processed, drums in hand, to the beach for the first half of the ceremony. With music and dancing they made their way to the dock, prepared a beautiful offering of flowers and fruit, and released it into the water.