Investigation of Alleged Inappropriate Conduct by NPS Deputy Director

The OIG investigated allegations that National Park Service (NPS) Deputy Director P. Daniel Smith made an obscene gesture and used vulgar language while standing in the hallway of the NPS headquarters in Washington, DC. Smith and another NPS employee recalled Smith telling a story while they were standing in the hallway together, but they denied that Smith touched himself obscenely or used any vulgar language. Smith acknowledged he gestured with his hands to simulate urinating while telling a story and stated that in hindsight the story and the gesture were not appropriate for work. The other employee said he was not offended by the story or the gesture but also acknowledged that they were inappropriate for the workplace. We found no other witnesses to the incident.