History of United States Park Police in Timeline

The United States Park Police (USPP) is the oldest uniformed federal law enforcement agency in the U.S., acting as a full-service police force. Its jurisdiction covers National Park Service areas primarily in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and New York City, extending into surrounding metropolitan areas with both state and federal authority. Besides standard policing duties like crime prevention and investigation, the USPP is responsible for safeguarding numerous famous monuments.

1919: Name Change

In 1919, the name of the Park Watchmen was officially changed to the United States Park Police.

1925: Office of Public Buildings and Public Parks Placement

In 1925, Congress placed the Park Police in the newly created Office of Public Buildings and Public Parks of the National Capital, which was headed by an Army officer and reported directly to the president.

1929: Expansion of Authority Outside D.C.

In 1929, the authority of the United States Park Police began to expand outside of Washington, D.C.

1933: Transfer to the National Park Service

In 1933, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt transferred the United States Park Police to the National Park Service.

April 1973: Aviation Unit Established

In April 1973, the Aviation Unit of the United States Park Police was established, commanded by Lt. Richard T. Chittick, and equipped with a Bell 206B JetRanger helicopter.

1975: Second Helicopter Added

In 1975, a second helicopter, a Bell 206B-3 JetRanger, was added to the Aviation Unit, and the unit relocated to Andrews AFB.

1976: Relocation to Anacostia Park

In 1976, the Aviation Unit moved to its current facility in Anacostia Park, known as the "Eagle's Nest."

January 1982: Air Florida Flight 90 Rescue

In January 1982, USPP helicopter pilot Don Usher and his partner Gene Windsor saved the lives of five passengers from the Air Florida Flight 90 crash. They flew their Bell 206 "Eagle Two" inches above the frozen Potomac River to pull the survivors from the 34°F water.

December 1982: Washington Monument Standoff

In December 1982, Norman Mayer threatened to blow up the Washington Monument with a truck. The standoff with U.S. Park police ended after ten hours when police fired dozens of shots, fatally striking Mayer.

1982: Response to Air Florida Flight 90 Crash

The crews of U.S. Park Police Aviation resources assisted during the 1982 crashing of Air Florida Flight 90.

1983: Helicopter Upgrade

In 1983, the Bell 206B-3 JetRanger was upgraded to a Bell 206L-3 LongRanger.

1989: Glen Echo Flood Rescue

In 1989, Officers David Duffey and William Lovegrove rescued two people in the Glen Echo Flood after a parking lot collapsed.

1990: Officer Heller Shooting

In 1990, Officer Katherine Heller shot an assailant who had attacked another individual and wrested a service pistol from Officer Scott Dahl. Heller was later named Police Officer of the Year.

January 1991: First Twin-Engine Helicopter

In January 1991, the Aviation Unit's first twin-engine helicopter, a Bell 412SP, was placed in service and designated "Eagle One."

1991: Delivery of Eagle Two

In 1991, the Aviation Unit took delivery of Eagle Two.

1993: Golden Venture Ship Rescue

In 1993, Park Police officers rescued passengers of the Golden Venture ship, which had run aground on the beach at Fort Tilden in Rockaway, Queens. They were the first to arrive on the scene and pulled survivors from the cold water.

January 1994: 24-Hour Coverage

In January 1994, the Aviation Unit of the United States Park Police grew to its current staff and began providing 24-hour coverage.

1994: Shooting of Homeless Man

In 1994, Park Police shot and killed a homeless man on the sidewalk in front of the White House after he brandished a large hunting knife taped to his hand and refused to surrender.

August 1999: Delivery of Second Twin-Engine Helicopter

In August 1999, the Aviation Unit took delivery of its second twin-engine helicopter, a Bell 412EP, which became the fourth helicopter in the unit's history to carry the designation "Eagle One".

2011: Arrest of Dancers at Jefferson Memorial

In 2011, U.S. Park Police investigated the arrest of five dancers at the Jefferson Memorial. The dancers were protesting the ban on dancing at memorials. A judge ruled the arrests did not violate the dancers’ first amendment rights.

September 16, 2013: Washington Navy Yard Shooting Response

On September 16, 2013, U.S. Park Police played a role in the Washington Navy Yard shooting. Two U.S. Park Police officers were involved in the response, and U.S. Park Police Eagle 1 conducted a rescue mission.

2013: Washington Navy Yard Shooting Response

The crews of U.S. Park Police Aviation resources assisted during the 2013 Washington Navy Yard shooting.

September 2014: Crackdown on Food Truck Operators

By September 2014, Park Police had arrested 196 people over the year for vending without a license on the mall, some of whom were jailed.

2015: Detainment of Secret Service Agent

In 2015, U.S. Park Police detained an on-duty Secret Service special agent. The Park Police were sued following the incident for violating the Fourth Amendment.

2015: Ban on Body Cams

In a 2015 memo written by Chief MacLean, he told the entire U.S. Park Police force not to use any audio or video recorders "while on duty".

May 2016: Replacement for "Eagle Two"

In May 2016, the Aviation Unit received a replacement for "Eagle Two" with a used & reconditioned Bell 412EP to replace the aging aircraft delivered in 1991.

2016: Traffic Regulation Enforcement

In 2016, Park Police aggressively enforced traffic regulations outside Arlington National Cemetery, leading to charges that were later dropped on appeal.

June 2017: Congressional Baseball Shooting Response

During the June 2017 Congressional baseball shooting, the crews of U.S. Park Police Aviation responded with two helicopters and transported Congressman Steve Scalise and a U.S. Capitol Police Officer to the trauma center at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

November 2017: Shooting of Bijan Ghaisar

In November 2017, Park Police shot and killed Bijan Ghaisar, an unarmed Virginia man, after a hit and run. The family was not allowed to touch their son for three days following the incident.

2017: Handcuffing Teens Selling Water

In 2017, Park Police handcuffed teens who were selling water on the National Mall, prompting questions from DC Councilmember Charles Allen about the appropriateness of the response.

2018: Introduction of Body Camera Bill

Following the shooting of Bijan Ghaisar, in 2018 DC Congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton introduced a bill to require uniformed federal police officers to wear body cameras and have dashboard cameras in marked vehicles.

2019: Disclosure of Sexual Assault

In 2019, the sexual assault of a female Park Police officer by her male colleague two years earlier was disclosed. The attack occurred inside a Park Police station.

June 1, 2020: USPP clears Lafayette Park protesters

On June 1, 2020, under the order of Attorney General William Barr, USPP officers cleared protesters from the streets bordering Lafayette Park in DC, using tear gas, flashbangs, and rubber bullets, according to news crews and protesters. Park Police on foot and horseback used riot gear like batons and shields to drive crowds away. The USPP denied using tear gas, but media reported the use of pepper spray canisters. The incident, which included the assault of Australian journalists, led to a diplomatic complaint. Two officers were assigned to administrative duties, and the Department of the Interior’s Office of the Inspector General began an investigation.

June 2021: Department of the Interior, Inspector General, issues its Review of U.S. Park Police Actions at Lafayette Park

In June 2021, the Department of the Interior's Inspector General issued a review of the U.S. Park Police actions at Lafayette Park on June 1, 2020. The review stated that the Secret Service acted before the Park Police gave dispersal warnings, increasing tensions. Park Police officers began clearing the crowd before completing dispersal orders and before the mayor's planned curfew. Commanders could not identify who issued the deployment order or why police radio transmissions were not recorded.

July 2021: $730,000 awarded in police misconduct case

In July 2021, a jury awarded $730,000 in a police misconduct case against two Park Police officers for unlawfully detaining and taunting a man with weapons and cursing, despite the absence of suspicion of criminal activity.

August 2021: Lafayette Park Incident Investigation Ongoing

As of August 2021, the Department of the Interior’s Office of the Inspector General investigation into the June 1, 2020, Lafayette Park incident was still ongoing, with no report yet available on the OIG website.

April 8, 2022: Force Size

As of April 8, 2022, the United States Park Police force consisted of 494 officers.

May 2023: New Chief of US Park Police

In May 2023, Jessica M. E. Taylor replaced Pamela A. Smith as the chief of the US Park Police. Taylor had 25 years of experience in federal law enforcement.

2023: Off duty Park Police officer shoots colleague

In 2023, an off-duty Park Police officer, Alexander Roy, shot a colleague during an incident involving alcohol in an apartment. Roy was attempting to "dry load" a firearm when it discharged, resulting in the death of the fellow officer. Roy was charged with involuntary manslaughter.

2023: Roblox developer arrested at conference.

On September 9th, 2023, Mikhail Olson, a Roblox developer, was arrested by United States Park Police Officers after a concealed unattended firearm was located at the Roblox Developer Conference at Fort Mason in San Francisco, California. Officers also discovered an illegal large-capacity magazine and armor-piercing ammunition. Mikhail Olson attempted to evade the officers. He was booked into the San Francisco County Jail.