Just when I think I can’t be more outraged by the Bush administration, they do it to me again. Today I heard a story on NPR that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

In late November 2003, the Washington Post contacted the Chief of the United States Park Police, Teresa Chambers, for an interview. They had received information from the Fraternal Order of Police about budget shortfalls and staffing shortages in the Park Police — specifically in DC parks — and wanted to follow up. Chief Chambers verified that their information was correct, but stressed that her staff was working hard to fill in the holes since they understood the important role they played in national security. The interview with the Washington Post was fully approved by her superiors at the Department of the Interior and her quotes appeared in the final article, published on December 2, 2003.

The evening the story was printed, Chief Chambers received a gag order from her supervisor ordering her to have no further contact with the media. Three days later she was stripped of her gun and badge and escorted from the building by armed National Park Service Agents (treatment normally reserved for agents accused of criminal acts). She has been on paid non-duty status ever since.

Just last week the gag order was lifted, and Chief Chambers can finally speak to the press. She and her lawyer are working on getting the Department of the Interior to identify exactly what the charges against her are. So far, no one has come up with anything.

Since Chief Chambers was put on non-duty status, one acting chief has retired and another one has taken over — in the meantime the National Center for Women and Policing has announced that Chief Chambers will be awarded a lifetime achievement award at the end of April for her 25 years of service.

The Department of the Interior can’t decide what to charge her with, but it seems pretty clear that the only thing this decorated public servant is guilty of is being honest about the security capabilities of the US Park Police being stretched too thin. I would think DOI would be grateful for her vigilence.