A Florida police department is seriously wondering where they went wrong after they learned last week that two of their officers were allegedly members of the Ku Klux Klan — especially since, five years ago, they had to fire another officer for being a KKK recruiter. (That is three Klansmen too many for an organization.)
The Fruitland Park police department received evidence from the FBI alleging that two of their own, Deputy Chief David Borst and Officer George Hunnewell, were secretly Klansmen. Though it’s technically not illegal for them to associate with the Klan (despite its classification as a hate group by the FBI), the conduct led Chief Terry Isaacs to investigate. Borst resigned of his own volition, but denied that he was a secret Klansman. (Hunnewell was fired for other performance issues.)
In a statement to the Orlando Sentinel, Isaacs said that the department was upset at the accusations. “The last thing I was expecting to hear in the year 2014 was for a professional law-enforcement officer to be a member of a subversive organization,” he told them.
Which is funny, because in 2009, the Fruitland Park police department had the exact same problem:
A city police officer has resigned after allegations surfaced that he was a “district Kleagle” and “staff sergeant” in the Ku Klux Klan.
James Elkins, 28, resigned Jan. 20 after the Police Department launched an internal investigation when it received information that Elkins was distributing fliers in Sumter County promoting the Klan, police Chief J.M. Isom said Friday.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office also received photos earlier this week that show Elkins dressed in KKK gowns and hoods. Isom confirmed that the pictures are authentic.
One Klan member in your police organization is bad. Two Klan members is probably worse. But discovering that your police organization’s hired three Klan members? You might as well bury your head in shame. Maybe in a white bag, to show your humility — waaaait.
Watch a report on the scandal below via WFTV:
[h/t Gawker]
[Image via screenshot]
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