Are cops held to a higher standard?
 

Long story shortened - State trooper was fired for posting on a KKK website while off-duty. Judge reinstated him based on First Amendment rights. What do you think? Are cops held to a higher standard?

I'm okay with this decision.


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Link to it

http://www.ketv.com/news/9737294/detail.html


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What are your thoughts on this?

Personally, Im not in favor of any hate groups or any groups at all, But I think they expect too much from cops, even while they are off duty, as long as they act professional and fair while on duty, i really dont care what they do off duty.

damn right give his ****in job back...

first ammendment right... **** that liberal hippy bull****... he wants to post on a KKK forum he has the right... he wants to post on a gay pride websight, he has the right... he wants to post on micheal jacksons website... THEN HE HAS THE ****ING RIGHT TO

cops are given alot of responsibilty... and trust... so they are held to a higher standard...

thats why it can be extremely hard to become a cop

I thought the hardest part of becoming a cop was doing all the physicals and test just to get paid $30,000 a year which includes mad overtime and working holidays?

ya gotta be VERY DEDICATED...

but some bureaus are harder then others...

NJstate

college
no criminal record
if you ever got a ticket.,.. forget it, its strict
accadmy is hard
and the test just to be considered is hard

my brother has ben trying to get into corrections... and that is a bitch...

that cop is on barrowed time. cops are held to a higher standard. kids look up to cops. plus he isnt a stellar cop.

think about it a state trooper actively participating in a hate group, the KKK. too much controversy. im glad dude got fired.

His termination got lifted though, hes back on the squad because of the first amendment

wow that's a tough one....of course he has the right to express his opinion, but I think it gets a little sketchy when it's a "hate group". I guess if he hasn't done anything wrong or expressed that "hate" while doing his job then he can't be fired....With that said if he's on the internet saying "hang all black people" then I personally wouldn't want a cop like that in my city. I think it wouldn't even be an issue if he had some desk job sitting in front of a computer, but as a cop he needs to be un-biased and fair to everyone regardless of their color, race or religion. Can he do that?? I don't know, maybe he can.

I know we have many people of different backgrounds on this site, but if I were a black, hispanic, jewish or anything else that wasn't white I would feel VERY uncomfortable getting pulled over by some white guy who was part of the KKK.

Oh and $30k a year to be a cop is just flat out retarded.....I know Cali is MUCH different when it comes to pay....plus cost of living is much higher, but I know several Sheriff Deputies that almost make $100k a year with overtime and that's pretty damn good.....they also have a lot of options for overtime....jails, Raiders and A's games...ect...., But $30k a year is not fair!

i think he has the right to do what he wants on his own time....but at the same time...if he's affiliated with a hate group...does that play a part in his decision making while on duty?????

hate doesn't have a time clock

Just to let you guys know...

heres some brief history on the KKK

Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is the name of a number of past and present fraternal organizations in the United States that have advocated white supremacy, anti-Semitism, racism, anti-Catholicism, homophobia, and nativism. These organizations have often promoted the use of terrorism, violence and acts of intimidation such as cross burning to oppress African Americans and others.

The Klan's first incarnation was in 1866. Founded by veterans of the Confederate Army, its main purpose was to resist Reconstruction, and it focused as much on intimidating "carpetbaggers" and "scalawags" as on putting down the freed slaves. It quickly adopted violent methods. A rapid reaction set in, with the Klan's leadership disowning it, and Southern elites seeing the Klan as an excuse for federal troops to continue their activities in the South.

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The KKK is not a hate group anymore... They have done some down right dispicable crimes... But today they are more of an organization... The KKK here in Jackson (WHICH I HAVE NO AFFILATION WITH) donates money to charities such as land preservation and wildlife etc. THERE ARE BLACK MEMBERS... YES you read that correctly...

But I can't sit here and honestly say that there are other klan organizations else where that hold the same beliefs as they did in the late 1800s.

So just because he is involved with the KKK doesn't necessarily make him a bad person and it doesn't mean he holds the same beliefs that the KKK held in its early years...

I by no way am defending the KKK, just thought I'd throw that out there... people do change....

I cant argue with the 1st Amendment...but...If hes a racist off duty then he is a racist on duty. He should lose his job permanently. Too risky for a person like that to have a job like that.

Yeah but the value of a dollar in florida and the value of a dollar in cali is diff value. In florida houses are around $400,000. In cali i have heard the avg house is like $700,000. In south carolina houses go for about $100,000. In some areas of texas i heard you can get some houses for as little as $50,000.

I have considered getting into law enforcement, and really the only thing holding me from getting into it is the pay. They start off at $30,000. Some guy I work with left law enforcement, he said he did it for 4 years and was only making max $34,000 a year with overtime, now hes an executive for some lending companie making over $250k a year.

No, your totally right about the cost issues....I just think it sucks that a cop who litterally puts his/her life on the line everyday doesn't make a better than average salary. It's kinda like teachers, they are teaching the future of our country and some of them are paid like crap! Not fair.

I dunno, big gray area, but IMO, to say the KKK isnt a hate group anymore is just naiive. No, its not as bad as it used to be, but do you honestly think they get together and have tea? Thats all Im going to say about that group. And about cops being held to a higher standard, yes, they are, and SHOULD be but being on a KKK website is not illegal, but thats why its such a gray area. But I tell ya what, if I have to do 35, cops should have to obey the same speed limit they will write my ass a ticket for. THAT pisses me off...

He should be able to go onto whatever website he wants while he is off duty. any legal website (barring kiddyporn etc)

Should a cop be able to go onto a street racing website? same ****.

Well I certainly cannot comment on your local KKK, but I know the ones around here that protest on the court house square and hold rallies around the midwest are not a tolerant bunch of losers. They preach the same BS they always have. They are certainly not going to let a black guy be a member, and what self respecting black guy would want to be a member of the KKK if thye changed or not.

Im pretty sure there are ALOT more KKK groups like the ones here than the ones near you.