Park police chief says charges unfounded, seeks reinstatement

Embattled National Park Police Chief Teresa Chambers on Monday called various charges lodged against her by agency leaders--including improper lobbying and insubordination--factually inaccurate and "incredibly petty."

Chambers issued a point-by-point rebuttal to charges filed against her by Don Murphy, the Park Service's deputy director who placed her on administrative leave last month and requested that she be fired.

"These charges against Chief Chambers do not pass the laugh test -- they are factually incorrect, legally indefensible and incredibly petty, all at the same time," said Jeff Ruch, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, which has joined a legal team seeking her reinstatement. "A breakdown in the Park Service leadership has needlessly created a confrontation where consultation is in order."

Murphy placed Chambers on administrative leave on Dec. 5 just days after she told news outlets that her agency needed more money and faced personnel shortfalls. Murphy ordered Chambers to surrender her badge, gun and law enforcement credentials, and prohibited her from speaking further with the media.

Later Chambers was notified in an eight-page letter from Murphy that the Park Service intended to fire her. In the letter, Murphy charged Chambers 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.

Lawyers for Chambers said the charges against her are full of factual inaccuracies and inconsistencies. They said Chambers is invoking multiple legal defenses and that her statements to the media are protected by law.

Chambers' response was submitted to Paul Hoffman, deputy assistant secretary of the Interior Department, who is designated as the "deciding official" for the case. Hoffman must determine whether to reinstate Chambers, terminate her or take some other course. Chambers can appeal Hoffman's decision through administrative and judicial avenues.

Chambers, a career law enforcement professional, was appointed as the first female chief of the Park Police in February 2002. Its 620-member force is responsible for national landmarks ranging from the Statue of Liberty in New York to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. The bulk of the agency's work is in Washington, where Park Police patrol the National Mall, monuments, and federal parks and parkways.