Lane

I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

A. Introduction

This case stems from a dispute between Melinda Lane, a former park ranger, and her supervisors at the National Parks Service (NPS), a division of the Department of the Interior. Lane, who worked at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, was promoted to a position with law enforcement duties in August of 2001, and experienced employment problems soon after. On October 21, 2001, Chief Park Ranger Dale Antonich received a letter from a citizen complaining that Lane acted unprofessionally when she stopped him for a traf- fic violation. Lane disputed certain aspects of the complaint, but agreed to undertake a plan to improve her skills. In March of 2002, Lane used profane language to describe some of her instructors at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, 4842 LANE v. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR and was placed on disciplinary probation as a result. A meet- ing was held between Lane and her supervisors to discuss concerns about her performance in June of 2002. In atten- dance were Antonich, William Shott (Lane’s immediate supervisor), District Ranger Mary Hinson (Lane’s second level supervisor), and Deputy Chief…