Teresa Chambers was sworn in as U.S. Park Police chief on Monday, nearly seven years after she was fired when she publicly complained that her department was understaffed and underfunded. A federal board ordered Chambers reinstated with back pay earlier this month after it determined she was protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act.
Officials had claimed she was fired for failing to follow the chain of command. Chambers had said there weren’t enough officers in the agency to adequately protect national park land and monuments, including the Washington Monument.
Chambers replaces Chief Sal Lauro, who will now serve as a senior law enforcement adviser at the Department of Interior.
– Freeman Klopott
