A group of corrections officers from West Virginia have come under fire after posing for a photo while doing the Nazi salute.
When the image was made public Thursday afternoon, the caption read “Hail Byrd!” a reference to the training class’ director, a representative for the governor’s office, told the Charleston Gazette-Mail.
It has not been made clear if the officers were receiving routine training or if they were trainees.
Although a few of the individuals in the image have been suspended while the photo is investigated, Gov. Jim Justice has ordered the firing of everyone determined to have participated.
“I condemn the photo of Basic Training Class #18 in the strongest possible terms,” Justice said. “This will not be tolerated on my watch.”
Secretary Jeff Sandy released a statement calling the image “distasteful, hurtful, disturbing, highly insensitive and completely inappropriate.”
The Department of Corrections has issued an order that all physical copies of the image be ruined.
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