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Return to Article: Park Police budget request falls short of chief's estimate

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  When did the chief's estimates become the standard for comparison? I do not think the chief provides the best estimate of the budget because she is not independent and will tend to overestimate the needs. It is like saying that a guy that sat in a POW camp for many years is therefore qualified to be President of the USA. Don't mix sorrow with qualification.

  However, she was treated badly and should be reinstated and Murphy should be fired.

  GovExec.com reader Posted February 6, 2004 7:00 AM
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  The United States Park Police budget is increased by $3.3 million. Of that, $2 million goes to level Orange staffing. Another $1 million goes to security for the 2005 Inauguration. That leaves $300,000. According to the article, Mr. Barna, the mouthpiece for the financial braintrust of the National Park Service, says "staffing is only one factor that affects security and increased demands" and that "the right technology and equipment can also improve security and help reduce demands placed on the workforce."

  In a ridiculous attempt to deflect attention from the matter of overall fiscal crisis, Mr. Barna would have us believe that the Park Police can acquire, deploy, and manage technological solutions for a mere $300,000. In reality, $300,000 would barely cover the cost of a study to examine the stupidity of his logic.

  Additionally, the Department of Interior took a 40% cut in IT funding in 2004, imposed by OMB because of inadequate planning for and administration of IT resources and passed along to all bureaus and agencies. Since the overall increase in budget of the Park Police seems to be already accounted for, it appears that there isn't even adequate funding to restore the Park Police IT budget to it's 2002 level. How in the world are they going to get more IT and other technologies with less money? Think through these things before you speak to the world, Mr. Barna!

  GovExec.com reader Posted February 4, 2004 7:26 PM
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  It will take the death of an officer to convince Bruce Schaffer, Debbie Weatherly and Criag Crutchfield that more officers are needed. Round and round we go. How many more studies, work groups, task analysis is it going to take before the three amigos realize they are playing with peoples' lives?

  GovExec.com reader Posted February 4, 2004 3:13 PM
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  There was a study conducted by the US Park Police Executive Team and submitted in July 2003 concluding that the department needed to expand to 1,400 officers. This staffing plan was recommended by the NAPA Report and was required by the Secretary of the Interior in her Directives on Law Enforcement Reforms. This draft report was shared with the Department of Interior Budget Office and other senior administrators within the DOI.

  What qualifies Teresa Chambers to conduct a staffing study and analysis?

  Over 28 years in law enforcement, with six years experience as the executive leader of a law enforcement agency.

  Graduation from the FBI National Academy which specializes in leadership training for law enforcement executives at the masters level. Training includes focus on staffing analysis, resource deployment, etc. In fact, Master's degree credit is given for courses taken there.

  Advanced training that the FBI National Executive Insititute. In essence, the "PhD" course to the National Academy.

  Graduate of the John Hopkins University (School of Business) Police Executive Leadership Program which resulted in a Master of Science degree. Much of this intensive post-graduate level program focused on administrative issues such as staffing and deployment.

  Internship with the Police Executive Research Forum. Hands-on experience in conducting strategic organizational studies of other police agencies with recommendations to streamline organizations, enhance agency efficiency through staffing and resource allocation, etc. Proven experience as a subject matter expert to PERF in conducting staffing studies and organizational studies of law enforcement agencies across the country.

  That's what qualifies her to make a decision. As an outsider coming into the United States Park Police, she was not biased towards any particular role and function or staffing level within the Park Police.

  Now, the question is ... what qualification does Don Murphy, Fran Mainella, Bruce Sheaffer, and the others have to determine law enforcement staffing needs or organizational structures? The Chief's data was not so baseless as Mr. Barna's assertion that it was! Maybe Mr. Barna was not told of this information? Maybe someone wants disinformation out there? My guess is the latter!

  Kent Fletcher Posted February 4, 2004 2:13 PM
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  I don't know who David Barna is, however, he seems to make some crazy observations about the budget and Chief Chambers' recommendations. First of all Barna refutes the Chief's estimate and says the Service will not know until a March study is completed what will be needed. Well then, neither does he! Furthermore, I'll bet the budget was required to be submitted well before March 2004, making the study results useless in budget construction. Recall that the Chief made her statement nearly 3 months ago, based on the demands then placed on her agency. To say "there isn't any basis for her numbers" and "they are not based on any study" is bureaucrat bull waste. No study was complete at the time of her comments so if that invalidates her estimates it also invalidates his comments. But I will bet you a nickel that the Chief had more empirical data upon which to base her budget estimates than did David Barna in refuting that estimate.

  I would also remind Mr. Barna that if the March study recommends that the Park Police are doing things which other agencies should be doing, he might well ask if they will do it. Most agencies, especially law enforcement agencies, are already stretched well beyond their mission. Transfer of tasks would likely be a paper move without true action. So then the real question becomes how will the absence of the removed function effect the safety of the citizens and officers.

  Kent Fletcher Posted February 4, 2004 9:31 AM