There is no evidence, at least according to this article, that this officer let his membership in the KKK get in the way of his job at all. In fact, it mentions that he made all his postings on their website during off duty hours.

 

If his views are not getting in the way of his job, he should be retained in his position. The force shouldn't care that their members are part of the KKK unless they start doing things they're not supposed to do - then they can act. Unless he starts lynching people or beating up minority suspects, he's done nothing wrong and he should have his post.

 

Anyone honestly think this would be the case if this police officer was a member of the Black Panthers?

 

 

This is exactly correct, but the employer does have the right to fire for any reason.

There is no evidence, at least according to this article, that this officer let his membership in the KKK get in the way of his job at all. In fact, it mentions that he made all his postings on their website during off duty hours.

 

If his views are not getting in the way of his job, he should be retained in his position. The force shouldn't care that their members are part of the KKK unless they start doing things they're not supposed to do - then they can act. Unless he starts lynching people or beating up minority suspects, he's done nothing wrong and he should have his post.

 

Anyone honestly think this would be the case if this police officer was a member of the Black Panthers?

 

 

1. 2 totally different times in America's history

2. 2 totally different groups whose intial founding principles are not remotely close in nature.

It really is a no brainer to fire him for a few reasons:

1. During the Klan's heyday, in the areas with a strong Klan presence, they got away with a lot of what they did because most of the cops in those areas were either a member or on the take for the KKK...considering that history, they should never let a KKK member be a cop

2. Cops have always been stereotyped as being racist, fueled by people like Mark Furman and things like the Rodney King beating, and allowing him to remain a cop would enforce that stereotype

3. If this guy were ever to testify in court in a trial of a black suspect, there's no way the suspect would ever be prosecuted by a rational jury...he wouldn't ever be able to work on a case where either a suspect or victim isn't white