Deputy's Facebook Comment Results In 1-Day Suspension

MOORHEAD, Minn. (AP) — A Clay County sheriff's deputy has been disciplined for a comment he made on social media.

KFGO-AM reports Detective Jason Hicks was given a one-day unpaid suspension.

Hicks wrote on Facebook that somebody should have "stomped his guts out" when referring to a man who was seen taking pictures of swimmers at Island Park Pool in Fargo, North Dakota, in July.

In a disciplinary letter, Sheriff Bill Bergquist says Hicks' actions were a "direct violation" of the department's standards of conduct and the employee speech, expression and social networking policy.

In addition to the suspension, Hicks was ordered to attend social media ethics training.

The man at the pool, whose behavior was the subject of police scrutiny, was not arrested or charged.

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