GovernmentExecutive.com

The Interior Department on Friday fired National Park Police Chief Teresa Chambers, according to an advocacy group.

Until the termination takes effect on Saturday morning, Chambers, placed on paid administrative leave last December after she discussed budget and staffing shortfalls with the press, will remain under a gag order, said Chas Offutt, spokesman for Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. The group, involved in Chambers' legal proceedings, is still "digesting" her termination papers, he said.

The Park Service could not be reached for a confirmation, or an explanation of its action.

In the meantime, Chambers' legal team has asked an administrative judge at the Merit Systems Protection Board to order the Park Service to reinstate her.

The Park Service placed Chambers under the gag order and on administrative leave early last December after she talked to the Washington Post. Don Murphy, the agency's deputy director, charged her with improper budget communications, making public remarks regarding security on federal property, improper disclosure of budget deliberations, improper lobbying, failure to carry out a supervisor's instructions, and failure to follow the chain of command.

Chambers challenged the charges, and her case is being reviewed by the Office of Special Counsel.

COMMENTS

• Remember, we work for the people, not corporate thugs. Now I understand how Hitler came to power! jim schuler Posted October 26, 2004 12:37 PM
• It is outrageous that Deputy Director Donald Murphy removed Chief Theresa Chambers from her position, but not surprising. This is typical practice of upper NPS management -- if an employee challenges the status quo, management will retaliate one way or another. Charges of insubordination or not following the chain of command are typically used when management feels that an employee is not in agreement with them or is challenging their authority. This type of systematic ostracism has been going on for a long time and is supported by all upper levels of management. Who do you think ordered the removal action but Director Mainella herself? I hope that Chief Chambers fights this to the end, and that the Merit Systems Protection Board makes the right decision to reinstate her. GovExec.com reader Posted July 20, 2004 3:16 PM
• I extend my full support to Ms. Chambers. She said NOTHING that was not appropriate given that the federal government is supposedly accountable to the public. This isn't supposed to be like the former Soviet Union--our government is supposed to be open. Note that I say "supposed to be" because this is a prime example of the downright un-American practices the folks in Washington engage in every day. Such blatant retaliation against Ms. Chambers! I know that she will emerge victorious. I work for the VA, and I bet they too would try to take the hide of any employee who made unflaterring public comments about the agency, no matter how true. It is all image, smoke and mirrors, in Washington. I rue the day I came to work for the Feds 17 years ago. Fed-Up at Hines VA GovExec.com reader Posted July 13, 2004 12:58 PM