Generally, you believe that before you take the oath, otherwise you wouldn't have shown up. I have less concern of someone who is publically affiliated, although he is going to do a great job of drawing the focus away from the rest of the Nebraska State Police Troopers, that's for sure.

Unfortunately, unions exist in response to misbehaving employers.

Or, fortunately.

The difference is just having prejudices, which all people have, and taking an oath to take specific action to act on your racist prejudice views as well as your political views... the Klan is not just a racist organization. It is Xenophobic, anti-Catholic, anti-Semitic, internationally separatist, homophobic, non-integration minded, and many other, VERY specific outlooks that are REQUIREMENTS for their members to believe in. When you are in a position of public service, it is expected of you to advance the organization's agenda.
Again, everyone has their prejudices, we can all try to be objective in our jobs and lives even if we don't wish to overcome them... we can even try to overcome them as we become better adults.
What someone who takes an oath to the Klan or the like does is swear never to do that, but to do the opposite, to encourage that in themselves and others. There is no place for that on any police force or public office...
That is saying a lot from me, because I believe that anyone, regardless of their belief system deserves an equal start...
But, public service requires loyalty, and once one takes an oath to another organization that supersedes that, they cannot be trusted, in anything, and should not be allowed to serve. It ain't hard.

If they do can him, others in the same situation will be much more careful to hide it. They will also be at risk of being blackmailed, or pressured for special consideration, being threatened with exposure and job loss.:2cents:

I think the poll results on this thread are interesting considering the discussion. It would seem that the majority of people think it's inappropriate for a cop to be a member of the KKK.

I'd love to know what other people's reasons are for thinking the way they do.

rkzenrage articulates it best I think. Merely being racist isn't enough. This is a very specific set of circumstances. Essentially, the police officer in question has prejudiced himself through membership of a group whose stated aims are incompatible with his job description and whose required oath is in direct conflict with the loyalties expected of him in his duties as a public servant.

A person's beliefs should not impact his job status. Only his behavior and actions when he is working should impact his job status. A corporate executive may be a misogynist. Whether he belongs to an organization, or not, if he hires, promotes women based on the same standards that he uses for men, and treats men and women the same, he would be considered an effective executive. If he discriminates against women, he should be fired. If this cop treats people of color differently than he treats whites, he should be fired. Until then, I don't see any reason for his beliefs to impact his job status. Would it be ok to fire someone because they are attracted to someone of the same gender?

If that person were a card carrying member of an organization which takes an oath and a clear stance against those who are not attracted to someone of the same gender, and yet they are in a position to protect and serve everyone, then perhaps yes.

Excerpt from a Ku Klux Klan Oath of Allegiance
I swear that I will most zealously and valiantly shield and preserve by any and all justifiable means and methods the sacred constitutional rights and privileges of free public schools, free speech, free press, separation of church and state, liberty, white supremacy, just laws and the pursuit of happiness.

White supremacy is kind of hidden in there, is it not?

If I say 'I fucking swear, I'm gonna murder him in his sleep!" it doesn't mean I should go to jail, it means I need a punching bag or something. Saying, believing, even swearing something is not grounds for persecution, because as maggie says, that's thought policing. The moment something is DONE, then there's hell to pay. I think Spexxvet has it right. I PERSONALLY think the guy SHOULD be fired and done away with, but "he's in the KKK!", while a good reason, is not a VALID reason for it, because that's saying its not legal to be racist. That isn't true. It ISN'T legal to DISCRIMINATE, therefore, it is a simple matter of proving that his obvious racism resulted in unfair treatment.

If the KKK didn't make him swear an oath which runs contrary to his duties as a police officer then it wouldn't be valid. It isn't illegal to be racist. It isn't a reason for dismissal. He shouoldn't be dismissed for racism. He should be dismissed for taking an oath which runs contrary to his duties.

NAMBLA has a right to exist, but their members shouldn't be working in day care.

what is NAMBLA?

Excellent point.

I didn't vote in the poll because I think it is defectively framed. I'm sure some others felt the same way.
You sure you don't just mean "I'm not done arguing about this yet."?