PEER helps Chambers win park police firing appeal

Bush Interior Dept. fired public safety whistleblower

WASHINGTON -- An update to a story I've been covering: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit today upheld the challenge of Teresa Chambers to her removal as Chief of the US Park Police, according to a ruling released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).

The appeals court sent her case back to a federal civil service board to correct its failure to recognize that Chief Chambers was removed "in reprisal for making a protected disclosure" under the Whistleblower Protection Act.

The appeals court ruling affirmed that police and other public servants are legally protected when raising warnings about "a risk to public safety." This decision will also have broad application beyond Chief Chambers to personnel within Homeland Security and related agencies who report security breakdowns.

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