“Whistleblowers” provide a public service.

Those who work in the government can see and hear things outsiders cannot and when those things are illegal revealing them can be valuable.

Whether James Gaddis, 41. Is a whistleblower, as he claims, remains to be seen. It also is not entirely clear that he was fired for revealing what he learned as a planning consultant for the state Dept. of Environmental Protection.

What he revealed were plans to add amenities to state parks, such as golf courses, hotels and pickleball courts.

News of the plans for what state officials called the Great Outdoor Initiative and said it was intended to increase the number of visitors to the parks.

Gaddis told the media the plans were “secretive.” But they obviously could not have been kept secret for long. One review of the plans was scheduled for Sept. 12 in a public meeting. Also, public hearings were scheduled.

But critics of Gov. Reon DeSantis quickly began an outcry and blamed DeSantis, who has said he did not know of the plans and called them “half baked.”

Gaddis was put on leave Aug. 30 and fired Aug. 31 via mail. He said it was for revealing the plans.

Gaddis didn’t reveal anything illegal and the plans that were in the works sound a little goofy but have not been given a full hearing. However, his firing should be reviewed to determine if he did, indeed, break state rules by improperly turning over material to the media.

Those working in government should not be discouraged from making public actual violations of the law, although in this case it appears the only effect was to set off the liberal media, which daily attacks the governor and certainly took full advantage of this leak.