Park Police Chief Gag Order Renewed

National Park Service political appointees have reimposed a gag order on NPS Police Chief Theresa Chambers, insisting that she not talk to the news media without permission. Chambers was suspended in December 2003 for talking to the press, and has since sought whistleblower protection. The text of the written gag order was released by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (a whistleblower group). The move apparently came in response to a series of recent write-ups that pictured Chambers favorably.

Chambers' case has been taken up by the Office of Special Counsel, which is determining whether moves to fire her were retribution for disclosure of government policies leading to poor public safety. Answering reporters' questions, she had said in December that heavy Park Police guards around national monuments,  politically mandated as part of the administration's anti-terror campaign, were stretching thin the force that protects people on other NPS land in the Capital. Since being suspended, Chambers had been following NPS orders not to talk about the budget and instructions of attorneys not to talk about details of her whistleblower case or personnel action.

The Washington Post had published a sympathetic profile of Chambers on April 9, four days before Chambers was told by Interior lawyers that she could not talk to reporters about anything without permission of her boss, NPS Deputy Director Donald W. Murphy. She had also taken part on a Post online forum and has started her own website.

 -- "Park Police Chief Vows to Fight for Job; Chambers Describes Emotional Toll of Suspension, Effort to Gain Support," Washington Post, April 9, 2004, by David A. Fahrenthold.

-- PEER: Release of April 14, 2004, "Interior Re-Imposes Gag Order On Chief Chambers." Contact: Chas Offutt, (202) 265-7337. Much more background.

-- Gag order text: Letter from Jacqueline Jackson (DOI Office of Solicitor) to Peter Noone (Chambers' attorney), April 13, 2004.

-- See WatchDogs of Feb. 20, 2004, and Dec. 19, 2003.