Dozens of West Virginia Corrections Officers Did the Nazi Salute for a Photo
Vice News
By Tess Owen
Dec 5 2019
Dozens of corrections officers in West Virginia posed for a photo in uniform while doing a nazi salute, and state officials are moving swiftly to contain the fallout.
So far, a handful of the individuals in the photo — which was published on state letterhead — have been suspended while the incident is under investigation, although Gov. Jim Justice has ordered the firing of everyone determined to have participated.
... The caption on the photo, which was released Thursday afternoon, reads “Hail Byrd!” a reference to the training class’ director, a spokesperson for the governor’s office told the Charleston Gazette-Mail. The training took place between Oct. 21 and Nov. 27. It's not clear whether the individuals in the picture were certified officers undergoing routine training, or whether they were trainees.
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/ywaa3w/dozens-of-west-virginia-corrections-officers-did-the-nazi-salute-for-a-photo
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Several West Virginia state employees have been suspended after a photo emerged depicting a training class of roughly 30 correctional officers performing a Nazi salute.
Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety Director Jeff Sandy sent a letter to all employees Wednesday describing the photo as “distasteful, hurtful, disturbing, highly insensitive, and completely inappropriate.”
The photo, on state letterhead, shows almost all of Basic Training Class No. 18 displaying the Nazi salute. Text above the photo reads: “HAIL BYRD!”
Sandy’s letter states that the employees have been suspended and are under investigation, although it does not describe the photo itself.
More at https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/legal_affairs/state-employees-suspended-after-photo-emerges-of-corrections-officers-nazi/article_fb446f32-31c5-5b46-9977-5854937697a7.html
