WASHINGTON — National Park Service Director Mary A. Bomar announced the selection of Salvatore (Sal) R. Lauro as chief for the U.S. Park Police. Lauro, who is currently serving as the acting deputy chief of USPP, will assume his duties as chief in January 2009.

"Sal has done an outstanding job since returning to the U.S. Park Police as acting deputy chief nine months ago," Bomar said. "His years of professional experience, knowledge of the organization and strong communications skills make him the right person to lead the U.S. Park Police. Selecting him for the position ensures not only stability in the short term, but also positions the Park Police for continued improvements in the future."

As chief, Lauro will manage a force of more than 600 officers with responsibilities for providing law-enforcement services to areas within NPS - primarily in Washington, D.C., New York City and San Francisco. USPP is a unit of NPS within the Department of the Interior, with jurisdiction in all NPS areas and certain other federal and state lands. It frequently provides protection for dignitaries, such as the president of the United States and visiting foreign heads of state. USPP also assists other areas of NPS and other law-enforcement agencies during law-enforcement emergencies.

Lauro began his career with the U.S. Park Police as a police officer in Washington, D.C.,. in 1978. In 1985, he moved to the USPP’s New York Field Office as a police officer, rising to the rank of lieutenant by 1992. He served as the regional law-enforcement specialist for NPS for the Southwest Region from 1993 to 1997. As such, he advised the regional director and staff on all aspects of law-enforcement and visitor-protection issues in the Southwest Region. In 1997 he returned to the USPP’s New York office as the commander of the Central District. As commander, he supervised almost 75 supervisors and officers in a district that protected such important national icons as the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. He returned to USPP’s Washington, D.C., office in 1999.  There he held positions as the commander of the Special Forces branch, commander for special events, captain, supervisory special agent and most recently acting deputy chief – a role he has served in since March, 2008.

Lauro is a highly trained law-enforcement specialist, having received his education in law-enforcement skills and techniques from some of the best in the business. He has trained with the FBI National Academy; New York Police Department; Department of Justice; U.S. State Department; U.S. Army; and Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, where he is a distinguished graduate.

Lauro is a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., and a graduate of the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, graduating in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in engineering.