Iowa moves to fire trooper accused of anti-Obama e-mails

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald-AP

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa is moving to fire an Iowa State Patrol trooper accused of using his state-owned computer to forward an e-mail that included jail mug shots of people wearing Barack Obama T-shirts.

Sgt. Rodney Hicok, who’s based in Fort Dodge, is appealing.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety says Hicok remains on paid leave until the case is resolved.

Public Safety Commissioner Eugene Meyer said in a statement Tuesday that his department on May 20 initiated firing procedures following an internal investigation.



Read more: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10645467

[47of74]

1. Good...I don't want anything other than professionals in the ISP

[Historic NY]

2. I got that e-mail I think his problem is using the state computer to forward

personal e-mail. The photos appeared to be ones commonly printed in some newspapers, similar to one from the smoking gun. He was using the states time & equipment. He still is a jerk being a supervisor he is expected to set a better example.

[JonQ]

3. If the firing is because he used state equipment inappropriately

then great, that is grounds for a firing.

If it's just because of the political content of his emails I have a problem with that.

[Recursion]

5. I used to be a sysadmin

If we fired everyone who used computers inappropriately the unemployment rate would be 100%.

That said, do remember that in an office network, someone can always tell what you're doing on your computer.

[tomm2thumbs]

4. I can see a reprimand and perhaps some time 'off' to think - but firing sounds like payback

and I'm a big Obama fan - but unless this guy had a mile long record of other things and this was just the final straw, then this single incident doesn't appear to me to rise to the occasion of termination. Call me an idiot but that's just how I feel.

[sybylla]

7. I might agree with you except...

in the article it mentions e-mail showing mugshots of people wearing items supporting Obama. Since the guy is a police officer this shows first a clear bias inappropriate to doing good police work, second if sent to co-workers can be construed as creating a threatening work environment putting the entity at risk of a lawsuit, and third by using government computers for personal political activity it is a clear violation of the law, something a police officer is supposed to uphold.

I'd say this alone suggests cause for firing.

[Selatius]

8. Well, you just named three reasons to fire instead of just one.

Taken all together, I don't think termination is excessive.

[Cha]

6. How stupid do you have to be

to use State equipment to catapult your hate?

Fucking loser.

[Doctor_J]

9. Boot him - he'll have a job a Fox News in a week anyway