The Iowa Court of Appeals on Wednesday upheld the firing of a state trooper who used his state computer to e-mail mug shots of criminal suspects wearing T-shirts supporting the election of Barack Obama as president.
The court ruled the 2009 firing of Trooper Rodney Hicok was justified. The Webster City man was suspended after he sent the e-mail, which included a derogatory comment. He was fired after he later used state equipment to print a racial joke and show other troopers a racially offensive video.
Hicok claims his firing was politically based and illegal. His attorney, Pamela Walker, said she's unhappy with the decision, but has not decided whether to file an appeal.
