Police officer with connection to Proud Boys fired

[riversedge]

Source: the hill




By Sarah Polus - 04/09/21 10:43 PM EDT


A California police department announced Friday that it fired one of its officers for having ties to the far-right extremist group Proud Boys.

The Fresno Police Department terminated Rick Fitzgerald's employment following an investigation that began after the officer joined a Proud Boys event on March 14. Fitzgerald was placed on administrative leave following the incident while the department investigated, according to a statement the department shared to social media.

"It is clear to me there were egregious violations of department policy," Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said in a statement publicly announcing Fitzgerald's ousting, according to NBC News.
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Police Chief Paco Balderrama denounced Fitzgerald's participation in the fringe group's counterdemonstration of a pro-LGBT protest, saying he did not want an officer on staff who associated with the Proud Boys.

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Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/547488-police-officer-with-connection-to-proud-boys-fired

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Good work.
But I suspect the city has not seen the last of him.

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© Getty

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[TreasonousBastard]

1. Just what is it those chunky ones are proud of?

[justhanginon]

2. Certainly not IQs.

[Claire Oh Nette]

16. Right?

Proud of that lifetime collection of Bud Light they keep close tot heir hearts. Fat, ungroomed, slovenly. Yep, lots to be proud of there.

If the only thing going for you is white skin, and you have no talents, no skills, no ideas to offer, just pasty white skin encasing a doughy soft body then yeah, you should be worried about being replaced. The only accomplishment they can hang their hats on is a genetic mutation leaving them bereft of melanin.

They have nothing to be proud of. THat's a shame. THey're headed to a prison near you. That will make my day.

[Maxheader]

3. I dunno,

They gotta be in a group, like the white house trashers?

To pose a threat?..bundy brave..

The latest murders? Affiliated with any rad right

groups? Or had a cog come off?...

[joetheman]

4. This kind of investigation and action needs to be done in every law enforcement organization across

the country and throughout the Federal and state governments.

[diverdownjt]

5. Why roll up your sleeves...

just so you can wear tattoo covers? Just roll your sleeves down......idiots.

[johnthewoodworker]

6. I think the Republican/Nazi racists number in the thousands in police. Expel them all.

[PatrickforB]

7. They are such disgusting jerks. Traitors, all.

What in the world are they proud of? Being white?

[3Hotdogs]

8. I suspect he will have a 1st Amendment suit. Being a member of an asssholic group is allowed.

This, as along as your ACTIONS are legal. You can even be a member of the Communist Party of America. So the question is, were any of his off-duty actions illegal?

[Eugene]

14. There is a relevant Supreme Court ruling.

Not a lawyer. I don't have the direct opinion, but the FBI summarized it in 2006.

The 2006 assessment addresses this concern, however, by summarizing Supreme Court precedent on the issue: “Although the First Amendment’s freedom of association provision protects an individual’s right to join white supremacist groups for the purposes of lawful activity, the government can limit the employment opportunities of group members who hold sensitive public sector jobs, including jobs within law enforcement, when their memberships would interfere with their duties.”

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/white-supremacist-links-law-enforcement-are-urgent-concern

https://docs.house.gov/meetings/GO/GO02/20190604/109579/HHRG-116-GO02-Transcript-20190604.pdf

If this officer's links to the Proud Boys had to be found out months after the Capitol Hill putsch, The PD may also cite a lack of truthfulness about important facts.

[Hekate]

19. Thanks, Eugene. A lot of people have a hard time coming to grips with this reality...

All the Constitution guarantees is that you have the right to say obnoxious things and hang out with obnoxious people, and as long as you don’t break the law, the government can’t throw you in prison for it.

The US Constitution doesn’t guarantee you’ll still have a job, though, especially if you work in public sector jobs, and if your behavior brings disrepute on your employer or is at great odds with its mission.

[3Hotdogs]

24. Thanx..

[abqtommy]

9. If firing him is good then Lock. Him. Up. is much, much better!

[niyad]

10. Such a fine collection of male pulchritude.

[Hekate]

18. I know, right?

[bucolic_frolic]

11. Good.

Police should be as apolitical as possible. If your job is seriously divorced from your beliefs you are in the wrong line of work. If you are merely adhering to standards to keep a job, you are lying to yourself. Phoning it in is not good enough for an important career that others depend on.

[hadEnuf]

12. With many more to be fired, hopefully.

It's pretty clear that these right wing terrorists have been infiltrating the police, legal system and the military for years.

It is imperative that we clean house of these treasonous scum.

[AllaN01Bear]

13. fresno has been a long time hotbed of this stuff.

[Jon King]

15. How on earth does that collection think they are superior to anyone?

Talk about a group of dregs.

[Hekate]

17. Look at his necklace: he's affiliated with another white racist group as well

He may lack a paycheck, but he won’t lack for activities

[FakeNoose]

20. Watch out Red states - this guy is looking for a job

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

21. Good riddance

[Judi Lynn]

22. Photo of Fitzgerald "suited up" in his kilt:

Local news report:

Fresno police fire officer allegedly affiliated with Proud Boys
By Nathalie Granda

https://abc30.com/society/fresno-police-fire-officer-allegedly-affiliated-with-proud-boys/10502500/

[rockfordfile]

25. Just another right-wing terrorist.

[PSPS]

23. Don't these guys just get hired by another PD? Their past never seems to follow them (or is a plus.)

And who is providing them with the anabolic steroids they all seem to be taking?