History - U.S. Marshals make legal presence in Antarctica
 The Marshals Service became the
official law enforcement entity for
the South Pole through an agreement
with the National Science Foundation
(NSF) and the U.S. Attorney for
Hawaii.
In 1989, the NSF approached the
marshal for the District of Hawaii to
assist in setting up a legal presence
in Antarctica. (Up to that point, there
was no law enforcement and no way
to charge and prosecute law breakers.)
Environment impact agreements
were signed by all 26 nations who
share mutual claim in Antarctica, but
the United States wanted some way
to enforce the law in the "American
section" of the continent. The NSF
wanted the Service to appoint a
deputy to serve there. (Shown on right is Former
District of Hawaii Chief James Propotnick. He takes off his hood for a quick
picture
while gripping the one and true South Pole. The chief arrived in
Antarctica in
honor of the first law enforcement officer to make a legal presence at
the South
Pole. At the time of the photo, the temperature was -48 degrees
Fahrenheit (wind
chill was -98 degrees). The U.S. flag in the picture does not have a
wire border.
The wind blew so hard it straightened the flag and froze Propotnick's
hair in
place as soon as he lowered his hood.)
The NSF sent two station managers
from Antarctica to Glynco for
training, and the Service appointed
them as special deputies. The official
swearing-in took place in Hawaii,
the headquarters district for the
American stations at the South Pole.
The two special deputies rotate duty
every other year.
The scientific foundation wanted
Hawaii Chief Deputy James Propotnick, a career operational
employee, to fly to the South Pole
for installation ceremonies for the
first special deputy assigned to the
region.
"After a long time thinking about
it - approximately one microsecond
- I agreed," stated Propotnick. "To
tell you it was a great trip would be
like saying 'winning a $35 million
lottery was neat."'
The South Pole is located 10,000
feet above sea level. The combination
of elevation, extreme cold and
humidity of one to two percent wreaks havoc on unprepared "visitors." Propotnick drank water
constantly and lost it to evaporation
almost as fast. The NSF outfitted the
chief with clothing and classes on
survival in Antarctica.
"I was told that there is no bacteria
or living organism of any kind in
Antarctica outside of humans, birds
and penguins," stated Propotnick.
"After getting the tour, I believed it."
Special Deputy U.S. Marshals
greet all visitors to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, with a lecture and
warns that serious crimes committed on the continent by Americans can be
prosecuted in the United States. |