Letter to the community::
I now know how Jimmy Stewart felt.
OK, I mean I know how “George” felt in the movie “It’s a Wonderful
Life.” You know, the scene at the end where George is about to be hauled
off to jail and the entire town shows up to throw money in the hat and
rescue him.
My sincere, humble thanks to the more than 650 people (mostly Ratonians) who
signed a petition to ask N.M. State Parks to retain me as a park ranger at
Sugarite Canyon State Park. A special thanks to Dianne Yandell and Cilla
Mays for initiating the petition and spending many hours circulating it.
Also thanks to KRTN Radio and SuperSave for providing venues.
To be truthful, I’m still having a hard time taking in this gift of
support from so many people.
I came to Raton in 2005 to work as a “regional interpretive ranger”
based at Sugarite, to provide school and public programs on nature and
history. Last spring I had a chance to shift into a law enforcement ranger
position. That job allows me to do all aspects of ranger work–including
some interpretive programs. The new job meant I’d have to complete the
N.M. Law Enforcement Academy. I believed that despite my age (57), I was fit
and able to comply, as fitness standards are based on age and gender.
However, after a month at the Academy I was dismissed for deficiencies in
“defensive tactics.” A month later, State Parks notified me I was going
to be fired. (During my month away, my old interpretive ranger job was
eliminated in a cost-cutting move.)
I requested a hearing to present my side of the story to State Parks, and my
response included references to the community petition. On Nov. 1, I was
notified I was not being fired at this time, but was advised I must complete
the law enforcement academy to keep my job.
I take a fitness test at the end of December, and if I pass, I return to the
academy in January. I promise to continue to do my best. I know I have a lot
of people rooting for me.
Patricia (Ranger Pat) Walsh
