A Vermont State Police trooper who resigned after authorities opened an investigation into what they called his “egregious” Facebook posts took to the social media site to say that he had been targeted by “hyper sensitive citizens” and thought his bosses had overreacted.
Jonathan Graham, who was a corporal, said that Vermont State Police officials had threatened to fire him, and that he resigned Thursday even though he in “no way” accepted their decision.
“VSP was going to fire me for the online post [sic] that were reported to them by an activist, not a concerned citizen,” he wrote on his Facebook page, later adding, “Termination is over the top and a reaction to some hyper sensitive citizens.”
On Thursday, Col. Tom L’Esperance and Public Safety Commissioner Keith Flynn said an internal investigation into Graham’s posts had determined that many of them “rose to a level of extreme concern for the Vermont State Police.”
“Not only were there alleged violations of the department’s social media policy, but also there were alleged violations of Vermont State Police’s code of conduct,” their statement continued.
On Graham’s public Facebook page, he mocked expressions of homosexuality, criticized a teenager who posted negative comments on social media after Graham pulled him over, and poked fun at former Olympian Bruce Jenner, who has been undergoing gender reassignment procedures. “First step to become a woman: Drive like one,” said a caption on a photo he shared of Jenner, who was recently involved in an accident.
Graham did not respond to a message seeking comment, but his daughter defended him in a letter published in the Rutland Herald, saying “forced resignation is far too harsh a punishment for my dad’s actions.”
WCAX, which broke the story of the initial investigation, reported that Graham of Springfield was a 15-year state police veteran who worked out of the Rockingham barracks. He’s also a member of the U.S. Coast Guard. In 2009, Graham was honored with a lifesaving award at the Statehouse for rescuing a young girl from drowning.
Graham’s Facebook posts contain many colorful comments about a range of social issues.
When Gov. Peter Shumlin appointed former Windsor County public defender Kevin Griffin to become a judge in 2012, Graham linked to an article and commented, “Great, just what we need. Another defense atty on the bench.”
On at least one occasion, Graham implied his State Police and Coast Guard duties had overlapped.
In other posts, Graham discussed traffic stops in which he was involved.
In comments under that post, Graham said, “Oh Yes … we SHALL cross paths again and the outcome will justify his current status.”
Graham then had an exchange with some Facebook friends about the post. Graham told one that he had “creeped FB” before and used it to gathered evidence.
“Some people are so stupid when it comes to what they post,” Graham observed.
State Police spokesman Scott Waterman told Seven Days, “The internal investigation was incomplete at the time of Corporal Graham’s resignation, thus there was no official conclusion made about any action to be taken. Due to the nature of the internal investigation into a Vermont state trooper, I cannot comment on the substance of Jon Graham’s social media content, or the evidence presented to us by a concerned citizen.”
In a statement, L’Esperance apologized to “anyone who had been offended by any of Corporal Graham’s posts made while employed as a state trooper.”
“I accept Jon Graham’s resignation for all citizens who expect and have a right to a fair and impartial state police force,” L’Esperance said. “I also accept Jon Graham’s resignation for all Vermont state troopers who selflessly serve our communities and commit at the beginning of every shift to enforce the laws of our state without bias or prejudice, no matter their personal beliefs. I believe strongly that we are accountable for our actions. I commit the Vermont State Police to continue to build the community’s faith in this department.”
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Graham needs to be out of law enforcement. Though I would defend his right to hold opinions that I find stupid, childish, and offensive, I also think that an adult should have the good judgment to know the right time, the right place, and the right manner in which to express those opinions. An intelligent person knows when to open his mouth and when to keep it shut. One of the most important, if not THE most important, qualities that a police officer must possess is good judgment. Graham needs to do some work in that area.
While I don’t agree with his stances on homosexuality or his decision to publicly, excessively and sarcastically voice them while serving as an officer, I think the more concerning comment is in response to the article on white privilege. He sounds like one of the many people in the country who do not believe a white privilege exists and is too ignorant to have an open and productive conversation about the legitimate concerns of a portion of the population which he claims to serve and protect. He appears to have very ignorant stereotypes of people different to what he knows/has always known. That does not give me confidence in his ability to act unbiased in his treatment of people different to him. I also agree that he appears to be lacking in good judgment, a vital skill of law enforcement.
I think Graham’s idiotic comments are unbecoming, but I’m disappointed that Seven Days didn’t concentrate on his worst comment: when he saw a car with a Bernie Sanders sticker, “Oh how I wanted to spin her vehicle out.” Basically, he wanted to violently assault a woman for having a different political belief than him. That’s the problem. Most of the other comments? I could care less, it’s his own personal issues, but when a law enforcement officer talks about using his authority / cruiser to assault a citizen, that’s grounds for termination.
I’m not defending this dude, but just wonderin, would people be just as concerned if this officer’s public, yet personal, online postings were of an intolerant left-wing variety instead of an intolerant right-wing variety? Would there be three comments on here (so far) questioning his judgment if he had made fun of someone with a Ted Cruz bumper sticker on their car, rather than a Bernie one? Just wonderin.
I saw that comment about the bumper sticker and I made up my mind he was not anyone who should be able to have any power of anyone! Clearly his thinking is childish and for a police officer to write something like that is horrific! He needed to have some type of punishment! If he is a good man then he will have no issues finding a job around here! I’m happy that state police decided to do the right thing! Thanks feel safer!
Move along folks, nothing to see here.
Anybody can post comments to social media. Sometimes we see posts that seem idiotic. I thinks it’s OK to avoid social media to prevent me from sounding like a moron.
This guy resigned from the VSP. Meeting over.
Like I stated, move along…
Maintain
Trooper Graham pulled me over for too much snow on my windshield, during a snowstorm, in 2009, just after I got out of the navy. He drew his gun on me and ended up giving me a $200 dollar ticket. He was a lunatic, the type of cop that all these protests are about. It doesn’t surprise me at all that he got wrapped up in a scandal… oh I forgot… THANK YOU trooper Graham for resigning.
Jonathan Graham’s unrepentant statement about his forced resignation shows that he hasn’t learned anything. Sad.
I’m not condoning anything however I think it’s such a shame that in Vermont you’re only allowed one ideology. Closed mindedness Prevails.