Our National Icons At Risk?

Assessment of the United States Park Police "United States Park Police continues to struggle with the competing missions of protecting national icons and monuments and functioning as an urban police department at the same time and with the same resources. Consequently, USPP has failed to adequately perform either mission, which has resulted in deficient security at national icons and monuments and an inability to effectively conduct police operations. USPP operations have been scrutinized in a number of reports over the past 6 years, yet USPP managers have only been minimally successful in implementing recommendations for improvements made in these reports. For more information about the USPP see: http://www.nps.gov/uspp/

Despite national and departmental mandates that require the development and coordination of comprehensive policies, practices, and protective measures, USPP has failed to establish a comprehensive security program for the protection of national icons and monuments. Although USPP officials have stated that the protection of national icons and monuments is a top priority, USPP does not have centralized command level oversight of icon protection. Decisions affecting icon protection are primarily made at the local level. USPP has not developed comprehensive asset security plans or provided formal training for those responsible for protection the icons. Additionally, USPP has been unable to properly staff security posts; instead, USPP relies on the use of closed circuit television camera systems to augment security coverage even though these systems are not continuously monitored and are not fully functional. Although USPP and contract security personnel share security duties at the national icons and monuments, we found there is little, if any, cooperation and communication between the two groups."