Special Counsel to Investigate Chief Chambers' Case

WASHINGTON -- Embattled Park Police Chief Teresa Chambers received some news Wednesday about her fight to keep her job. WTOP has learned that her complaint against her boss is going to be investigated.

A letter from the U.S. Office of Special Counsel to Chambers' attorney states that "reasonable grounds exist" for a full investigation into her proposed removal.

Chambers was suspended and barred from speaking with the media in December after reporting low staffing and funding levels to The Washington Post and WTOP Radio. Later that month, the U.S. Park Service announced plans to fire her on grounds of insubordination and improper lobbying.

The investigation will determine whether Deputy Parks Service Director Donald Murphy improperly stripped Chambers of authority and put her on administrative leave just days after her comments were made public.

Murphy offered to forego any charges and restore Chambers as police chief, if she agreed to a gag order. She declined.

PEER, the group representing Chambers, says the decision to investigate means the Office of Special Counsel believes Chambers' statements are covered by whistleblower laws.

PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch says what Chief Chambers has endured is unacceptable.

"To Chief Chambers, this is extremely significant because her entire career has been put on hold," Ruch said. "One day she is one of the country's top law enforcement officers, and the next day, she's been stripped of her badge and gun and basically been put on house arrest."

There has been no response from Murphy's office or the Department of the Interior in matters related to the Chambers case.

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