State Worker Fired After Emailing Picture Calling Murdered Officer a Pig
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - A disturbing image of a fallen officer that showed up in his work email ended up getting a state worker fired, and now he is fired up.
The image is controversial, offensive, and now the basis for a possible lawsuit. The altered image of slain Florida teen Trayvon Martin over the face of fallen Vallejo Police Officer Jim Capoot.
The caption reads "Would it make people feel any different if we put this face on a dead pig?"
The picture showed up in Steve Johanson's email account at his work, the California Employment Development Department.
"I was completely disgusted and upset and very angry about it," he said. "It was just a visceral, gut reaction to how disgusting it was."
Johanson knew Capoot well. He couldn't believe a colleague at work would ever send this to him.
"The person who sent it to me knew I knew Jim and worked with Jim. It was not a big secret what my former job was," he said.
This former cop forwarded the email to another ex-cop friend who posted it in disgust on his blog. Then, the state suspended Steve and fired him Thursday for improper use of work email.
It's a decision he's fighting and may sue over.
He lost his friend, and now his job. But he's gaining support from strangers as his story and the picture spread on the Internet.
"It's disgusting," Steve said.
As for the EDD, no one there is saying anything other than confirming Johanson's firing on Thursday.
