By Chevetta Gilmore, The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The suspended chief of the U.S. Park Police petitioned the Office of Special Counsel on Thursday to be reinstated to her post immediately, the group representing her said.
Teresa Chambers’ request for emergency intervention would argue that the National Park Service violated her First Amendment rights by preventing her from communicating with Congress and the media, said Jeff Ruch, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. The group also said a supporting legal brief, composed by a nonprofit law firm, would cite Chambers’ protection under federal whistleblower laws.
Chambers was suspended Dec. 5 and barred from speaking to the media after she made public statements about being forced to cut back on patrols so officers could guard national monuments. She also said her department had a $12 million budget shortfall this year and needed $8 million for the next fiscal year.
Last month, the Park Service Deputy Director Don Murphy told Chambers of plans to fire her, accusing her of violating federal rules by going public about budget and staffing problems. The Interior Department is still reviewing the case. There is no timetable for a final decision on her status, Ruch said.
The Office of Special Counsel oversees compliance with federal civil service rules. Although it has no legal standing, it has the power to seek a review by the Merit System Protection Board, which protects federal employees against partisan political practices. The special counsel can seek a voluntary stay of any action against Chambers until the office does an independent review, Ruch said, or it could seek an order to force her reinstatement if a stay is denied.
Special Counsel Scott Bloch was nominated by President Bush and confirmed by the Senate last month.
“How the special counsel handles this petition by Chief Chambers will send a message to all federal employees as to whether (he) intends to be an active advocate for whistleblowers,” Ruch said.
Earlier this month, PEER said the Park Service offered not to press charges against Chambers in exchange for a gag order. The offer was made Dec. 12, six days before the Park Service announced it wanted to fire her. The group said Chambers rejected the offer because it would undermine her authority and make the department ineffective.
Chambers, 46, took office in February 2002. She was the first woman to be named chief of the U.S. Park Police, a unit of the Interior Department’s National Park Service. The Park Police patrol the grounds of the National Mall and other landmarks.
------
On the Net:
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility: http://www.peer.org
National Park Service: http://www.nps.gov