An editorial from The Charleston Gazette
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A security officer at the State Capitol has been fired because he sympathized with protesters rallying near the golden dome against contamination of the public water supply for 300,000 West Virginians.
In February, officer Douglas Day posted a Facebook note saying he “despised wearing a police uniform” because it required him to remain impartial on duty, unable to show support for the pickets.
“A girl I know who frequents the Capitol for environmental concerns looked at me and wanted me to participate with her in the event,” he wrote. When he told her he couldn’t take sides while on police duty, she replied: “You’re a person, aren’t you?” He added: “That comment went straight through my heart.”
Three days after his Facebook post, Day was fired without reason from the Capitol force. Three months later, after he filed a grievance, his superiors finally revealed internal documents saying he was dismissed because of his public comment.
A lieutenant wrote that Day’s post “shows no respect to the department, the uniform or the law enforcement community.” A sergeant wrote that his comment was “extremely offensive and shocking.”
Wait a minute. We think his remarks were simply honest, not inappropriate. Police officers are people, and they’re entitled to free speech like all Americans. A famous West Virginia case settled that issue…
– See more at: http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20140528/ARTICLE/140529350/1131#sthash.JZHagFa0.dpuf
