Staffing, budget, still at issue as Park Police faces busy summer

The U.S. Park Police is bracing for a busy summer, including providing security at two national political conventions, while facing budget and staffing shortfalls, a Park Police labor union official said Tuesday.

James Austin, chairman of the Park Police Labor Committee, which represents Park Police officers, said that not much has changed since Park Police Chief Teresa Chambers was placed on administrative leave in December for telling the media that her agency faced serious budget and staffing shortfalls.

"We're undergoing a lot right now, and I think the uncertainty in having the stability of a permanent leader sort of makes it difficult for any agency," Austin said. "We're looking at some major events coming up. We're still understaffed. We're still underbudgeted. Nothing's changed with the chief's status or with our deficiencies in staff and budget. It's extremely frustrating for our officers on the streets."

Park police are responsible for securing national landmarks ranging from the Statue of Liberty in New York City to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. The bulk of the agency's work is in Washington, where officers patrol the National Mall, monuments, and federal parks and parkways. This summer, the agency has the added burden of providing security during the Democratic National Convention in Boston, Mass., at the end of July and the Republican National Convention in New York City in early September.

It also is dealing with its second acting chief. When Chambers was placed on leave, Ben Holmes became acting chief; when he retired last month, he was replaced by Dwight Pettiford.

"It breeds a situation of uncertainty," Austin said. "For two years, it's Chief Chambers; for a few months, it's Chief Holmes; and we don't know how long Chief Pettiford is going to be at the wheel. So there's a lot of uncertainty."

Austin said this summer is going to be "a huge strain," but expressed confidence that the Park Police would be able to handle whatever situations arise and will work to educate those on Capitol Hill and in the Park Service of their needs.

"We're going to handle it as best as we can," he said "We've been dealing with this mess since December, so we'll just soldier on."

Cpt. James Moore, a spokesman for the Park Police, said he is "confident" the service will be able to meet the demands of the summer. He said the agency might have to move officers around to the busiest areas, but said officers will meet whatever demands come up.

"The U.S. Park Police is a professional agency and we're going to do what it takes to get our job done," he said.

Austin said the union still supports Chambers and hopes that a resolution to her case is reached in the near future.

Chambers will remain on administrative leave while the investigation into her case proceeds, according to an agreement announced Tuesday between the Office of Special Counsel and the Interior Department.

The department will not take any additional disciplinary action against her for 45 days while OSC investigates, lawyers for Chambers said Tuesday. The agreement was a logistical matter that had to be resolved before OSC's investigation could proceed. After 45 days, OSC will either issue a decision or request additional time.

Chambers began two days of meetings with OSC staff on Tuesday to get the investigation started.

"The only thing Chief Chambers wants is to go back to work," said Jeff Ruch, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, which is part of her legal team. "If the special counsel does not expeditiously resolve this matter, Chief Chambers will take other legal steps to force the issue."

OSC announced in February that it would investigate whether Chambers was retaliated against for making public comments about problems within her agency. She was placed under a gag order and put on administrative leave with pay after she told The Washington Post that her agency faced serious budget and personnel shortfalls.

National Park Service Deputy Director Donald 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.

Chambers challenged the charges, and asked OSC to reinstate her until a decision is rendered. Chambers' supporters, including a few members of Congress, have condemned the Park Service for reprimanding a high-level manager for speaking publicly about problems in a federal agency.

A spokeswoman for the National Park Service declined to comment Tuesday on Chambers' case because it is a pending legal matter. "We just have to let this one follow its natural course of events," she said.

She added that the Interior Department is also conducting an internal review of the case, but she did not know when that would conclude.