Troopers Suspended After KKK-Like Costume Prank

[Rhino]

Ohio Troopers Suspended After KKK-Like Costume Photo Prank
Sunday, April 13, 2008

http://www.foxnews.com/images/365296/4_61_041308_KlanCostume.jpg

SANDUSKY, Ohio — A highway patrolman dressed in a handmade Ku Klux Klan-like outfit while on duty was suspended without pay, while another trooper who forwarded a cell phone photo of the trooper in the costume has been demoted, authorities said.

Craig Franklin, a 12-year veteran of the Ohio Highway Patrol, is pictured in the Jan. 20 photo with a white cone on his head, white paper mask with eye holes and a white cloth covering his shoulders, according to a highway patrol report.

Franklin is otherwise in trooper uniform. A handgun holster, a radio normally issued by the patrol and other police equipment can be seen in the photo, the report said.

Click here to see the photo (http://www.sanduskyregister.com/articles/2008/04/12/front/678631.txt).

Franklin and Trooper Eric Wlodarsky told an investigator that the picture was taken as a joke while both were on duty at the patrol's Sandusky post and was modeled on a television skit by comedian Dave Chappelle....http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,351128,00.html

[Pennville_Bill]

The joke is in poor taste, but their punishments are complete over reactions

[LivingDeadGirl]

The joke is in poor taste, but their punishments are complete over reactions


Franklin is otherwise in trooper uniform. A handgun holster, a radio normally issued by the patrol and other police equipment can be seen in the photo, the report said.

Had it been off duty...I might agree. If I did that at my job, I'd be fired. I think they're a little lucky they haven't been. This kind of behavior is juvenile and law enforcement officers know better, or they should!!

[Pennville_Bill]

Had it been off duty...I might agree. If I did that at my job, I'd be fired. I think they're a little lucky they haven't been. This kind of behavior is juvenile and law enforcement officers know better, or they should!!

And I'd agree with you had they been in public and not at their post.

This kind of behavior is juvenile and law enforcement officers know better, or they should!!Agreed! But IMHO written reprimands would have been sufficient, as opposed to reduction in rank for one and suspension w/o pay for the other.

[Timberwolf]

:ditto: :yeahthat:

[Incident_command]

The person who made the complaint is the one who needs diversity training.

[MSGT]

Had it been off duty...I might agree. If I did that at my job, I'd be fired. I think they're a little lucky they haven't been. This kind of behavior is juvenile and law enforcement officers know better, or they should!!You don't know many cops.:D

[Incident_command]

You're right. Same for us idiot fireman.We are often silly and stupid. But fire someone for it?
The only way I fear losing my job is a slip of the tongue in anger. Not lack of knowledge, not lack of skill, not insubordination, but by offending someone. And its getting easier and easier to do it every day.

[DeclinetoState]

http://timstvshowcase.com/carter_c.jpg

Jasper (L) was a racist cop, often insinuated to be a member of the Klan, though I don't think he ever appeared in anything but his police uniform.