The Feminist Majority Foundation’s National Center for Women and Policing announced yesterday that it will honor US Park Police Chief Teresa Chambers with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Chambers has recently been the target of a review by the Department of the Interior for speaking out on the need for increased funding to hire more park police officers to patrol national monuments. The first female Park Police Chief, Chambers has been placed on paid administrative leave after refusing to agree to a permanent gag order.
“Chief Chambers is being honored for achievement in law enforcement while her law enforcement credentials and badge gather dust in a desk drawer,” said Chas Offutt, Communication and Outreach Director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), which has been rallying support for Chambers. “It is not surprising that the first woman chief of the US Park Police is now facing this type of intense scrutiny,” said Margie Moore, Director of the National Center for Women and Policing. “It also seems selective enforcement of federal regulations is alive and well when it comes to measuring the flaws of federal executives, namely women.”
The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to Chambers in recognition of her outstanding leadership over a 28-year law enforcement career. Chambers was previously Chief of Police of the Durham, North Carolina Police Department, where she is credited with significantly reducing crime while improving morale and staff retention. Chambers will formally accept the award during the 9th Annual Leadership Conference of the National Center for Women and Policing, which will be held in Boca Raton, Florida from April 27-30.
DONATE to the Feminist Majority Foundation to support the National Center for Women and Policing
