Louisiana deputy fired for being part of Facebook group

A Louisiana Sheriff’s Deputy is no longer employed with Plaquemines Parish after social media revealed he was a member of the Proud Boys, a group that focuses on masculinity and other hot-button topics.

Brian Green was investigated by internal affairs, who found that his public display of affiliation violated the agency’s social media politcy.

According to NOLA, the Proud Boys have been targeted in the past by the left-leaning Southern Poverty Law Center, who considers the organization a “hate group” and associates them with the so-called “alt-right.”

The Proud Boys were founded by Vice Magazine co-founder Gavin McInnes in 2016, and believe in closed borders, masculinity the shunning of racial guilt, minimal government, gun rights and the “veneration of the housewife.”

McInnes has denied affiliation with “alt-right” movements or white supremacy, saying the group is diverse and does not discriminate based on race, religion or sexual preference.

While the PPSO does not condone or support the organization, it appears that Green’s fatal flaw in the incident was being open about his affiliation.

A statement from the agency notes that deputies cannot engage in social media practices that “negatively affect the public perception of the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office” or partake in speech “that would reasonably be considered reckless or irresponsible.”

Unfortunately for Green, his active and easily-visible affiliation in terms of his online social media preference was a direct violation of department policies, and may have gone unnoticed had he not made it a point to be so open.

The ex’deputy is also reported to be a member of the “Proud Boys Louisiana Vetting Page,” which has recently been unpublished.

“Green’s decision to utilize the PPSO uniform to promote the views of the Proud Boys, whose values are contradictory to the values and the vision of the PPSO will not be tolerated,” a PPSO statement said.

In Washington state, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office recently relieved a female deputy -identified as Erin Willey- from duty after she was seen on social media wearing Proud-Boys clothing.

“Law enforcement officers are peacekeepers whose core mission is to protect and safeguard the community. My expectation is that my employees do not engage in activities or associations that undermine or diminish our role as peacekeepers,” CCSO Sheriff Chuck Atkins said in a statement.

While law enforcement agencies have long been a haven for many on the conservative side of the political spectrum, social media plays a pivotal role in police relations with the society at large. As such, officers should be cautious as to what they post -publicly and privately- on social media.

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