Week 4: Night Shift, Firearms, and Darkness!

 My last day working on the day shift at INDE was Tuesday, and I started working nights on Saturday. I was initially intimidated working day shift because there were many people. Fortunately, I was able to navigate day-to-day routines thanks to all-day shift rangers. I will utilize the techniques and strategies for my remaining time at INDE (and beyond). Here are a few important things I learned during the day shift. 

Park rangers face many perils throughout their tenure. One of the most important aspects of being a Law Enforcement (LE) ranger for the National Park Service is the ability to carry a firearm. Title 54, the General Authorities Act, allows commissioned park rangers to carry firearms. A gun is a dangerous weapon that must be handled in a particular way to avoid unintentional discharge(s). For that reason, there are 4 (four) rules every ranger must know to utilize a firearm safely.  The rules are:

1. Always keep your gun pointed in a safe direction. 
2.  Treat guns as though they are always loaded.  
3. keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on your intended target.  
4. Always be sure of your target and what's behind it. 

 Additionally, commissioned rangers must undergo training and/or certification to utilize firearms after a fixed period. I experienced rangers undergoing firearm (re)certification at one time. As previously mentioned, all rangers must know the rules for firearm safety. The firearm instructor, Deputy Chief Fernandez, asked his class of Rangers what the rules were before entering the firing range. The Rangers in the class knew the correct answers to the response.  

My first night on the night shift was an experience. The difference between the morning and night shifts is night and day. Firstly, rangers that work during the day are responsible for opening various areas. On the other hand, night shift rangers are responsible for closing the aforementioned areas. So, I shadowed Ranger Terry while she performed her nightly duties. The most jarring thing about the night shift is the low visibility at times. As a result, many areas throughout the park have become viable hiding spots for juveniles and transients. We came across a transient in the 18th-century garden while closing. He left the area without causing a scene. 

Sometime later, we received a notification from dispatch that there were gunshots heard near Edgar Allen Poe's house. Ranger Fahey and Terry responded to secure the Poe house. While investigating, Range Fahey discovered one of the doors was unlocked. The rangers needed to secure the entire Poe house to ensure no one was in the building—spoiler alert. The rangers did not find anything out of the ordinary outside of pictures of Edgar Allen Poe.