News Release

United States Park Police Chief Pamela A. Smith Announces Retirement

Date: April 8, 2022
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WASHINGTON — United States Park Police (USPP) Chief Pamela A. Smith announced today her decision to retire from the USPP on April 30. Deputy Chief of Police Christopher Stock will serve as the interim Chief.

“It has been my distinct honor and privilege to cap off my career as the Chief of the United States Park Police after spending my entire career within its ranks,” said Chief Pamela A. Smith. “I am proud of the dedication and professionalism of the entire workforce as we continued to meet the demands of a modern law enforcement organization.”

“I thank Chief Smith for her leadership and 24 years of loyal and faithful service to the United States Park Police. I respect her decision and congratulate her on her retirement,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams.

Smith became chief of police on February 28, 2021, and was the first African American woman to serve as chief in the agency’s 230-year history. During her distinguished law enforcement career, Smith has served as a patrol officer, field training officer, canine handler, academy instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, executive lieutenant to the chief of police, assistant commander of the San Francisco Field Office, commander of the New York Field Office, acting deputy chief of the Homeland Security Division, and deputy chief for the Field Operations Division. She was the first woman to lead the New York Field Office as its Major.

Established in 1791, the USPP is the nation’s oldest federal law enforcement agency. Today, USPP serves to protect the public, parks and the nation’s most iconic landmarks in the Washington, D.C., New York City and San Francisco metropolitan areas.

www.nps.gov 
 

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.