Cop who sent KKK-like images of people with white bags over their faces carrying torches in response to an email about Covid-19 masks KEEPS his job after being disciplined

A police officer who sent racist pictures of people dressed in Klu Klux Klan-like masks to an email about department-issued coronavirus masks will keep his job.

Officer Jacob McDonough of the Norman police department in Oklahoma sent pictures of people with white bags over their faces carrying torches on May 5.

McDonough continued to work as he was investigated internally by the department for the email to around 250 colleagues of a scene from the movie Django Unchained.

It showed KKK men complaining about the fit of their masks and McDonough was referencing how the department’s new masks did not fit properly.

The photos included the captions ‘I think we all think the bag was a nice idea’ and ‘but not pointin´ any fingers, they coulda been done better’

The email chain was stopped within 15 minutes by Lieutenant Lee McWhorter and Police Chief Foster said he reported it to internal affairs within 40 minutes

Norman Police Chief Kevin Foster said: ‘I was very offended and couldn’t believe that an officer had sent that out.

‘Regardless of what he was thinking, the inappropriateness of it and how it offends people is still there.

‘We are looking at another programme now for sensitivity training. I believe our in-services and our prior training are working and that is apparent by him being called so quickly on it.’

Norman Police officer Jacob McDonough will keep his job despite sending racist pictures showing Klu Klux Klan men to colleagues, the Oklahama force said Tuesday. Police Chief Kevin Foster (pictured) said he 'couldn't believe that an officer had sent that out'

McDonough, who has been with the department since February 2018, sent a picture from the 2012 Quentin Tarantino movie’s lynching scene.

In the scene, Klan-esque members seek to kill Cristoph Waltz’a character Dr King Schultz for helping Django Freeman, played by Jamie Foxx, but find difficulty with their masks.

The photos included the captions ‘I think we all think the bag was a nice idea’ and ‘but not pointin´ any fingers, they coulda been done better’. 

The email chain was stopped within 15 minutes by Lieutenant Lee McWhorter and Police Chief Foster said he reported it to internal affairs within 40 minutes.

McWhorter wrote: ‘McDonough, I really hope you didn´t mean that the way it looks because that´s MORE than inappropriate. I´d say this is a fantastic time to stop this email thread.'

‘Sir, I would like to apologize,’ McDonough wrote in response, saying he was using satire from the movie.

Norman Police said Tuesday it would not reveal the extent of McDonough’s discipline, in line with a state statute allowing a public body to keep personnel records confidential

The statute allows confidentiality unless final disciplinary action results in loss of pay, suspension, demotion of position or termination.

Spokeswoman Sarah Jensen said: ‘The discipline was determined following consideration of the facts of the incident discovered during the investigation and feedback from the Norman Citizens Advisory Board (NCAB).

A street in Norman named after a former Grand Wizard of the KKK, Edwin Debarr, was changed in December 2017 after 30 years of lobbying. Pictured: Klu Klux Klan Imperial Wizard Don Black (center) of Alabama is flanked by armed guards at the cross burning climaxing a Klan recruitment rally outside Winnsboro

‘In accordance with Oklahoma State Law, details regarding the nature of the discipline will not be available for public release.’

A phone call to a number listed for McDonough was answered by a man who said it was a wrong number. A second number listed for McDonough disconnected after ringing twice.

More than 360 people have signed a petition on MoveOn created by Deon Osborne to have McDonough fired.

A street in Norman named after a former Grand Wizard of the KKK, Edwin Debarr, was changed in December 2017 after 30 years of lobbying.