The Big Dig

Now that the Blizzard of 2010 has abated, the United States Park Police is digging out.

We maintained our normal complement of patrols throughout these challanging times, securing Icons and Memorials, providing Parkway patrols, and all of our regular duties, but we ramped up the additional public safety work of checking for stranded visitors.

Many of our officers spent several days living at the various stations, sleeping on cots, and fueling their bodies with MREs.

Our dispatchers never let the radio system become compromised with many long hours.

Aviation was utilized in Loudoun County, Virginia when the county Sheriff's Office was concerned that there may be missing drivers mired in snow and unable to be located except from above.

SWAT and Motors continued to provide escorts for the various dignitaries they routinely protect.

We benefitted from the extra efforts of our partners within the National Park Service, most especially the roadway and tree crews who cleared many miles of roads, moved and cut hundreds of downed trees, and at times, plowed a path for our patrols to respond to the police calls in hard to reach areas.

We are very proud of all of our staff for an incredibly well done job under trying conditions!

These photographs are an overview of Washington, DC after "Round Two" of this blizzard on February 10, 2010. You will see National Park Service areas such as the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Iwo Jima Memorial, Arlington House, the Jefferson Memorial, the Frederick Douglas House, the United States Park Police District 5 Station and Anacostia Operations Facility, the Aviation unit hanger "Eagle's Nest", Great Falls, and also some general views of the Washington area including the National Cathedral, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and Reagan National Airport.