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Return to Article: Park Police chief fired

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  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
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  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
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  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
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  See what telling the truth by a civil servant gets you?

  This blatant political attack on an employee of the federal government needs to cease and desist. Where are the Chief's protections?

  Chief Chambers, hang in there and keep fighting, your day is coming.

  GovExec.com reader Posted July 13, 2004 12:04 PM
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  Don Murphy has managed to get rid of a lot of exceptional women in the NPS. Talk about sex discrimination. The man needs to be fired himself and the NPS need to get away from the schedule C political appointees who are in this for their own ego. Murphy and Mainella don't care about the NPS only saving their own skins by lying to the American people about how "great" things are within the organization. When "Career professionals" were in charge, the NPS was well represented and the organization was truely great. But now...... Please, Mr. President, it's time to clean house and get rid of Don Murphy and Fran Mainella and reinstate Chief Chambers. Please, Mr. President, save the National Park Service!!!!

  GovExec.com reader Posted July 12, 2004 11:49 AM
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  An outrageous adverse action by Interior.

  It is interesting that Interior waited until after her probationary period was complete and than appears to use her statements as a pretext for getting rid of an unwanted manager.

  And interestingly enough they waited to issue the final removal notice to the day she files a summary judgement motion before the MSPB Judge.

  Senior folks at Interior just don't appear to care and are putting this employee through a horrible ordeal which she is bound to win.

  I don't really see the point in these embarrassing newspaper articles. I don't often say this but Interior Secretary Norton really does need to take some managers behind the woodshed.

  GovExec.com reader Posted July 12, 2004 9:04 AM
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  Hey guys - it is now 7 months - how long does the special cousel need to review this? This is ridiculous!!! Who appoints the special counsel? Don't they work for the President? Hey Bush get her reinstated before November or else no vote for the republicans! Even then it is highly unlikely I will vote republican. Don Murphy is the one that should be fired! If the administration supports this mess then they should fire all of the CIA for lying about Iraq and most of the generals and admirals for telling Congress about their budget and manpower problems - or lack thereof when they did exist! The entire Chambers situation is an example of why no one should want to work for the government- at any level! Just keep electing these bad lawyers who cannot make it outside politics and you will continue to get this type of bad government. The ballot box is the place for a peaceful revolution in the USA. Vote out all that currently hold office and do not vote for anyone that has held federal office! There is a massive disease of stupidity in the federal government elected offices that needs to be cleaned out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  tax payer Posted July 12, 2004 6:11 AM
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  There is no hope of reforming the "groupthink" yes-men at the CIA as long as government employees see what happens to anyone who doesn't kowtow to Bush and his vindicative henchmen. This is a perfect example of what happened to a person of integrity, who tried to stand up to her corrupt bosses in Washington. Maybe she should have testified to the Senate investigating committee on the 9/11 CIA intelligence failure. The Republicans on that committee didn't find any evidence of intimidation of the CIA by the Administration??? Give me a break. Kerry and Edwards can't possibly be worse than this current bunch of bozos. Let's give them a try.

  GovExec.com reader Posted July 10, 2004 11:52 PM