US Park Police

The United States Park Police (USPP) is a federal law enforcement agency responsible for protecting national parks and related properties. They provide law enforcement services, security, and emergency response within these areas. The USPP is currently newsworthy due to two recent incidents. First, a USPP officer was seriously wounded in Washington D.C. in what the Park Police Chief described as an ambush shooting. The officer, working on an investigation in an unmarked vehicle, was allegedly targeted by two gunmen. Second, the USPP closed Fort Washington Park in Maryland after the discovery of multiple explosive devices. The Prince George’s County fire department bomb squad responded, highlighting the USPP's role in securing parkland and responding to potential threats. These events underscore the risks faced by USPP officers and the agency's critical function in ensuring public safety within national park boundaries.