Teh One Who Knocks
06-27-2015, 10:46 AM
By Jonathan Constante - Opposing Views
http://i.imgur.com/dQBtivB.jpg
A South Carolina police officer lost his job after posting a photo of himself wearing Confederate Flag boxer shorts on Facebook.
Sgt. Shannon Dildine posted the controversial photo on Thursday. and the post of the police officer showing off his confederate undergarments quickly spread across the internet.
In a letter obtained by ABC News, North Charleston Police Chief Eddie Driggers explains the reasons for Dildine’s termination. The letter stated that the photo undermines the former officer’s "ability to improve trust and instill confidence when working with our citizens."
"Your posting in this manner led to you being publicly identified as a North Charleston Police officer and associated both you and the Department with an image that symbolizes hate and oppression to a significant portion of the citizens we are sworn to serve," Driggers wrote.
While Driggers admitted that "some say the flag emblem may have different meanings to different people," he wrote that Dildine’s “personal beliefs are irrelevant to the City's decision to terminate” his employment.
Rather, the decision to post the photo in the wake of “current events” showed a “lack of a reason or judgment that is unacceptable,” the letter stated. Driggers added that a defense counsel could now easily question Dildine’s motivation behind making an arrest in criminal cases involving minorities.
Dildine has 10 days to appeal the decision, according to the letter.
This latest incident comes after several retailers, including Walmart and Amazon, agreed to remove any items with the Confederate Flag image from their stores and websites.
Several lawmakers in South Carolina are also pushing to have the flag removed from the front of the Statehouse, WCIV reported.
http://i.imgur.com/dQBtivB.jpg
A South Carolina police officer lost his job after posting a photo of himself wearing Confederate Flag boxer shorts on Facebook.
Sgt. Shannon Dildine posted the controversial photo on Thursday. and the post of the police officer showing off his confederate undergarments quickly spread across the internet.
In a letter obtained by ABC News, North Charleston Police Chief Eddie Driggers explains the reasons for Dildine’s termination. The letter stated that the photo undermines the former officer’s "ability to improve trust and instill confidence when working with our citizens."
"Your posting in this manner led to you being publicly identified as a North Charleston Police officer and associated both you and the Department with an image that symbolizes hate and oppression to a significant portion of the citizens we are sworn to serve," Driggers wrote.
While Driggers admitted that "some say the flag emblem may have different meanings to different people," he wrote that Dildine’s “personal beliefs are irrelevant to the City's decision to terminate” his employment.
Rather, the decision to post the photo in the wake of “current events” showed a “lack of a reason or judgment that is unacceptable,” the letter stated. Driggers added that a defense counsel could now easily question Dildine’s motivation behind making an arrest in criminal cases involving minorities.
Dildine has 10 days to appeal the decision, according to the letter.
This latest incident comes after several retailers, including Walmart and Amazon, agreed to remove any items with the Confederate Flag image from their stores and websites.
Several lawmakers in South Carolina are also pushing to have the flag removed from the front of the Statehouse, WCIV reported.