THE ORIGIN EVENT
KATI BAKER, PARK SUPERVISOR
Kati Baker, Park Supervisor, responded dismissively to operational questions about power outage protocols and escalated after receiving feedback about her tone.
Silence.
What I Did
I asked three operational questions at 6 AM during a power outage. I sent one follow-up email naming a dismissive tone.
What They Did
A same-day alone-confrontation.
A 90-minute trust extraction. A 62-minute picnic table meeting where a park manager told me to chew glass and admitted on tape he had never given me the benefit of the doubt. An unidentified man sent to question me in isolation. A phone-call dismissal six days before my finish date.
A 31-minute containment phone call by the program manager. A permanent ban from every state park in Oregon, on agency letterhead, citing my public comments. Procedural silence from the director. A federal law enforcement agent and two state troopers at my gate on the anniversary.
And silence from the institution.
FEBRUARY 9, 2025
During a power outage in H Loop, I contacted Park Supervisor Kati Baker at 6:00 AM after interacting with concerned guests since 3:00 AM. I asked for clarity on:
- Who to contact during off-hours utility issues.
- How status updates are communicated to volunteers and staff.
- What information I should provide to guests.
Her response was dismissive. I sent a follow-up email naming her tone and requesting the operational clarity I needed to serve effectively.
From: Samuel White
To: Kati Baker, Park Supervisor
Date: February 9, 2025
Subject: Following Up on the Power Outage
Hi Kati, I wanted to follow up on our exchange about the H Loop power outage. When I choose my sites as a volunteer host, I'm always conscious of what each position means for guest interaction. Being across from the gate means being a natural point of contact, especially during overnight issues. I'm a systems thinker by nature and profession. When I reached out at 6 AM, after interacting with concerned guests since 3 AM, I was seeking to understand how to best serve within this system. Having clear protocols helps me provide better service, especially during situations like yesterday's water outage where guests became agitated. I hesitated to contact you at that hour because I wasn’t sure if other volunteers had already done so or if that was the correct protocol. And when I did reach out, the response I received made me feel small—like my concern wasn’t valid, when in reality, I was simply trying to do my job well. That hesitation is something I shouldn’t have to feel when I’m only seeking to be as effective as possible in a role that ultimately serves both guests and the park. I’m still seeking clarity on: 1. Who to contact during off-hours utility issues 2. How status updates are communicated so that volunteers and staff can access the same information 3. What specific details I should provide to guests to ensure they feel informed I choose to be here because I care about making these parks work well for everyone. I want to be a valuable resource, but I also need to know my role is respected. Having clearer guidance on these points would help me serve both guests and staff more effectively. Additionally, I see an opportunity to improve how real-time updates are shared across teams. If there’s interest, I’d be happy to discuss a simple system for tracking and communicating outages, reducing redundant contacts while keeping everyone better informed. Best, Sam
THE ESCALATION
This email — a request for operational clarity and feedback about dismissive tone — was weaponized repeatedly as justification for subsequent institutional actions:
- Same day: Ryan Warren confronted me alone, cataloging first-week mistakes.
- March 5: Referenced at the day-use meeting as evidence of problematic behavior.
- March 25: Cited by Allison Watson during dismissal proceedings.
Every institutional action taken against me traced back to this exchange — not because I did anything wrong, but because I named her tone and insisted on the operational support I needed to serve effectively.