Legacy of the Yosemite Mafia

The Ranger Image and Noble Cause Corruption in the National Park Service By Paul D. Berkowitz, By James (“J.T.”) Reynolds Calling upon his own background in law enforcement and his unique experiences as a criminal investigator in the National Park Service (NPS), Berkowitz shows how an over-emphasis on image (the "ranger image") instead of contemporary professional standards has led to a culture in the NPS that accepts a broader form of noble cause corruption; that is, misconduct perpetrated in the name of the agency and its mission. Legacy of the Yosemite Mafia demonstrates how that practice has had self-destructive consequences, leading to diminished agency credibility and reduced support for environmental protection and the establishment of new NPS sites. Citing verified news accounts, internal agency documents, and personal notes, the book offers a dramatic case study challenging conventional wisdom and official accounts of agency history. Agency culture set in motion nearly a hal