Joshua Tree Search and Rescue, JOSAR, announced that it is going to suspend its Facebook page rather than allow local National Park officials to approve its posts. A post on the JOSAR page, followed by over 3,500 people, Sunday (April 15) said it was suspending its own page after the organization was told, “Joshua Tree National Park does not feel a volunteer of JOSAR should be posting without the Chief Ranger (law enforcement), approving each post” While JOSAR is a volunteer search and rescue ream working in Joshua Tree National Park, its own website specifies that it operates directly under the supervision of the Park. A spokesman for JOSAR, identified by Joshua Tree National Park as Brian Rennie, posted, “I have decided having law enforcement reviewing posts, is inappropriate.” The post refers any questions to the chief ranger and gives the Park’s main headquarters number to call for more information. The Facebook page was still up as of this morning (Wednesday, April 18) but no additional posts have been made. JOSAR was formed in 1982 and has performed more than 1,000 searches and rescues since then. No contact number for Rennie was available and Chief Ranger Carol Yeston was not available for comment.
