U.S. Park Police Chief Suspended

U.S. Park Police Chief Suspended

NewsMax.com Wires
Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003

WASHINGTON -- The top uniformed officer of the U.S. Park Police was suspended Friday, days after she went public with complaints that her department was understaffed and underfunded.

Assistant Chief Ben Holmes was named as Teresa Chambers' replacement, according to a statement from the National Park Service, which oversees the Park Police. Spokesman Bill Line declined to elaborate, saying it was a personnel issue.

Chambers told various media outlets on Tuesday that she had been forced to cut back on patrols across the area because her officers are now required to guard national monuments.

The next day, Don Murphy, the U.S. Park Service's deputy director, said Chambers broke a federal rule against public comment on budget discussions and another barring someone in Chambers' position from lobbying.

Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., a member of the House Budget Committee, said he suspected Chambers would be suspended after speaking with Murphy. Moran said it appears likely that Chambers will be fired.

"She was told to clear out her desk and to relinquish her badge, her government ID and her firearm," Moran said. "She's under investigation."

Chambers said her department had a $12 million budget shortfall this year and needed $8 million for next fiscal year.

Moran said he doubted that her statements amounted to lobbying.

"She never lobbied me and I doubt that she lobbied anyone else. In terms of the budget numbers, I think she was asked specific questions and she answered honestly," Moran said. "I think it sends the wrong message to other administrators who are trying to do their jobs."

Chambers 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, parks in Washington, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in New York Harbor, San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge and Presidio, and some scenic parkways in Maryland and Virginia. Nearly 680 men and women work for the Park Police.

Vacancies on the force have left it 15 percent below its authorized strength.

Chambers took charge of the U.S. Park Police in February 2002, after serving as police chief in Durham, N.C. Before that, she spent 21 years as a police officer in Prince George's County, Md.

Editor's note:
Get FREE traffic to your Web site INSTANTLY! Click here now!