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Ohio Troopers Fired over Klan Outfit Prank Save Email Print
Posted: 10:51 AM May 6, 2008
 Last Updated: 10:51 AM May 6, 2008
 Reporter: Associated Press
Email Address: news@wsaz.com
32 comments Photos
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SANDUSKY, Ohio (AP) - Two State Highway Patrol troopers have now lost their jobs over a prank involving what looked like a Ku Klux Klan outfit.

A patrol spokesman announced Monday that Craig Franklin and Eric Wlodarsky of the Sandusky post were terminated. Lt. Tony Bradshaw also says there was just cause for discipline.

A patrol investigation found that Franklin put a white cone on his head and donned a white mask and white cloth the day before Martin Luther King Day. Wlodarsky took a photo that he forwarded on his cell phone.

Gov. Ted Strickland last month asked that the men be fired.

Wlodarsky said Monday that he and Franklin are "very remorseful."
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Posted by: Mary on Jun 12, 2008 at 09:06 AM
This behavior is embarrassing to the people of Ohio. Did you really think something like this would stay quiet? Thinking something like this is funny is a reflection of ignorance and insensitivity of people of southern Ohio. I'm embarrassed to say I'm from Portsmouth.
Posted by: LEEROY on May 24, 2008 at 10:18 AM
any way to get rid of a cop is a good way. I'm all for firing them...throw a couple more on there too.They are all worse than the criminals they arrest anyway.
Posted by: ??? on May 8, 2008 at 10:20 PM
Maybe they didn't mean to be racisit, people were probably just kidding around, and people got offended...People get offended when somone looks wrong...Well I'm Native American, and if someone dressed up as a pilgrim I wouldn't be offended, people take things to serious.
Posted by: greenvalleyresident on May 8, 2008 at 08:52 AM
Apparantly Nadine has not looked at OSHP's uniforms. They already have a close resemblence to the NAZI uniform.
Posted by: Nadine on May 7, 2008 at 11:34 PM
Ok, what is up with everyone writing "the blacks" in all their comments?? What is this the 1950's?? No white people can't say the n word, who cares, don't say it. WHy does it even matter. Worry about yourselfs. The good/bad ratio of a human is the same for all races. Hello 2008!! I am shocked it took the Govenor to step in for these so-called "troopers" to be fired! I wonder would it be a "joke" if a trooper dressed as Hitler??
Posted by: Harold on May 7, 2008 at 10:45 PM
First off, racism is flat out wrong no matter what your family back ground is. Next, I think it's so funny that some white people get on here and write how these dumb troopers, (and yes, they are stuiped to do somthing like this!) Should have been fired over this. But what's funny, if these same white people was driving down the highway and some black punk kid cut them off in traffic, do you think for one second that the white person would say you dumb black kid! "NO" they would yell out the N word !!!! If they had the guts, they would say so!! So don't get on here and preach right and wrong!!!!!!
Posted by: Jim on May 7, 2008 at 10:29 PM
They must be held to a higher standard? Hey it's fact that MLK wasn't the perfect person! He had other women on the side and he was involved in other questionable activities! Don't stand there and say they must be held to a higher standard!! We are all human, and make mistakes!!!!!
Posted by: Levi on May 7, 2008 at 10:23 PM
Oh yes, the white man is to blame for ALL of the black mans problems!!!! I think the blacks in this county want racism, so they can have somthing to complane about!!!
Posted by: to pablo on May 7, 2008 at 05:03 PM
It has been attacked that is why they have changed the sentencing for cocaine charges anytime you send a black man to 3 times the amount of time with 4 times less the amount of drugs you are bound to have a screwed up ratio and it took 15 yrs to make the punishment equal do a little research before you spaek of something you know nothing about
Posted by: About time on May 7, 2008 at 04:51 PM
Ok now that OSP has done the right thing we can again start to have a little faith in our justice system this was not a prank it was nothing other than racism and ignorance and I for one do not want to spend my tax dollars on either they are public servants and are to be held to a higher standard and as for the impact on their families they should have thought of that before hand it is time people relize there are reprecussions for bad actions and it is a part of almost any work place in america and OSP is no exception they want to be rated world class so they need to have a little class.These actions are the reason that the naacp even exist if it were not for racism there would be no need for them think about it.Each and every one of us are responsible for our actions and saying i was just joking dont work anymore were adults not grade school kids so grow up man up and learn that you have to follow the rules and the world will be a better place for all. Thank you Govenor Strickland
Posted by: rob on May 7, 2008 at 01:18 PM
Sue the State? I hope they sue the State and I can get on the jury. Finally they made the right decision and fired these imbeciles. And yes I am white.
Posted by: greenvalleyresident on May 7, 2008 at 12:32 PM
The 3rd guy is the one that received a texted photo of the incident. He was not an active participant in the Dave Chappelle remake. He was just one that passed the photo on to others. I don't understand why it is OK for Chappelle to do the skit, but when a white person does it, the are a racist.
Posted by: Brian on May 7, 2008 at 08:21 AM
This is the second time I've tried to post a comment on this. To WSAZ: Who are the three men in the picture? The story only speaks of two officers in trouble. The third guy does look like a skin head. I'm really sure the officers are "very remorseful" as officer Wlodarsky stated. I'd be remorseful too, only if I lost my job.
Posted by: Dan on May 7, 2008 at 05:58 AM
Just look at the impact on two families for a dumb joke! Iguess Strickland is afraid of Sharpton.
Posted by: klan member on May 7, 2008 at 05:33 AM
they did nothing its not against the law to wear a klan outfit my chapter will be getting a hold of them are lawyer will represent for free in this nationwide lawsuit
Posted by: Levi on May 7, 2008 at 12:16 AM
Why is it when a black person calls another black person the "N" word it's no big deal. But, if a white person uses the "N" word it's the end of the world. It's time someone stands up and to say "Sticks and stones"!!!!!
Posted by: anonymous on May 7, 2008 at 12:02 AM
BE FAIR! This was not right, but neither is blacks that do this! START CHARGING BOTH RACES! Who is sick and tired of hearing about the black and white HATE, their outfits, mask or whatever, name calling, jokes,and speeches that instill hate that keep trouble going among both races?
Posted by: Freddy Klan on May 6, 2008 at 11:31 PM
If these officers was black and they done this nothing would have been said and nothing would have been done. NAACP is a joke and I hope that the officers sues the State of Ohio!
Posted by: anonymous on May 6, 2008 at 09:47 PM
this is a sad day indeed. if these officers were black and were photoed giving some sort of hand jestures the naacp would not let anything happen to them and they would be screaming at the top of their lungs
Posted by: what is this world coming 2 on May 6, 2008 at 06:53 PM
Being racist is soooo not funny what kind of person are you. Even worse it was a joke!!!!! Aparently that wasn't so funny. Now you don't have your job any more. Do me a favor and don't become a comedian. That's called a joke. Hope u learned your lesson.
Posted by: Wife of Retired Trooper on May 6, 2008 at 06:11 PM
As Pablo said, the firings are entirely political. In fact, I see these troopers getting their jobs back since they'd already been disciplined according to the the terms of their contract. Was what they did stupid and ill-advised? It sure was! But it's going to cost the state a lot of money when they have to reinstate them and give them back pay, etc. . .
Posted by: Anonymous on May 6, 2008 at 06:07 PM
For those of you that find this funny. I think you are just as sick as they are.
Posted by: Rizzy on May 6, 2008 at 04:08 PM
Its was a joke! Yeah right! Just like most of you say if you wear baggy jeans in the hood your a thug, If you put a sheet over you head your not a ghost.
Posted by: Ohioan on May 6, 2008 at 01:16 PM
You have got to be kidding me, this was just a joke. People take things way to serious. News shows allow Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and others get on TV and talk the way they do and the State of Ohio fired these 2 over a joke now that is unreal.
Posted by: Carlinda on May 6, 2008 at 12:43 PM
Justice has been served! People need to know that this kind of ignorance will not be tolerated! They wanted to play, now it's time to pay!
Posted by: Anonymous on May 6, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Oh my god!!!! It was just a joke!!!What if the tables were turned? Grow up people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Posted by: ashlee on May 6, 2008 at 11:46 AM
that is what he gets if he thinks that he can go out and make a racists joke then he should be fired!
Posted by: Pablo on May 6, 2008 at 11:38 AM
This is way to much punishment for the ill-devised prank these officers committed. Gov. Strickland over reacted to the constant complaining of some of the blacks in this country. I for one am tired of some in the black community making race an issue on everything. In the news lately we've been hearing about the "black church." If I attended a white church, I'd be a racist. But blacks are free to attend a black chruch just as they can compete in Miss Black Amrerica, attend Black Bike Week, even make moveies called, "White Men Can't Jump." Take out the "black" and insert "white in any of the above and just sit back and wait for Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson to label you racist. These offiers apoligized for their lack of judgement. Why can't we just accept their regret and forgive. I'm much more concerned about the fact that blacks make up 10% of the population and are 40% of the prison population. Attack that problem, Jesse and Al, and quit making race an issue on everything.
Posted by: Anonymous on May 6, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Good!!!
Posted by: Frank on May 6, 2008 at 11:33 AM
What idiots would even joke around like this. I could take a picture of my naked wife and post it on the internet and call it a joke, but I promise you I would lose my marriage. We don't need idiots like this patrolling our highways. How could they convince anyone they aren't biased when they pull people over. I like making people laugh as much as anyone, but this was never funny. In a culture as hyper-sensitive as ours to race, this is not funny it just plain ignernt(sic). Hey B&P, you reading this? We aren't ever going to eliminate ignorance in our culture, and I hope and pray that we do a better job of educating our youth to lessen incidences like this. Joke at anyone's expense just plain ole aren't funny.
Posted by: Kevin on May 6, 2008 at 11:20 AM
this is awful that the state caved into public pressure to fire these troopers for a prank that was pulled in the office not in the public eye, I beleive they should have been punished another way, everyone pulls pranks to releive stress. I bet no one in the Gov. office has ever pulled a prank.. If these officers would have been black everyone would have found humor in it.
Posted by: Bob on May 6, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Okay, This was in very bad tast. A poor joke, but if these troopers have never had any problems at work before this, firing them was to hard. It's an election year and Ohio Gov. Strickland is just playing politics! And no I'm not a racist! I have a black son in law and two half black grandchildren. If these troopers had been mocking people from West Virginia as dumb inbred hill billies with no teeth and no shoes, would Gov. Strickland had fired them? NO!!! It's just politics.
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