This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

My blood began to boil when I read this comment from attorney Gary Crane about the Layton Police Department's decision to shield the identity of a police officer posting racist and derogatory images on Facebook under the pseudonym, Woden Muninn ("Layton cop quits after racist Facebook post," June 17): "In our opinion, he's a good officer who made a mistake."

A mistake? Have we all become so normalized to hate speech that we don't consider it a deleterious and pernicious character flaw in anyone, let alone an officer sworn to uphold the law? Most of us believe a bigot and a "good officer" to be wholly incompatible. The officer resigned without formal discipline and is now free to get a job in law enforcement somewhere else.

A police officer is a public servant vowing to protect and serve all people in their communities, no matter their race, ethnicity, nationality, creed, gender or religion. This officer's "mistake" prevents him from performing that duty. Police need to be held to a higher standard.

The Layton Police Department ignores public safety in its decision to shield this individual. When it condones intolerance, it makes us all less safe. Shame on Layton police.

Diane Walker

Salt Lake City