Norman Police Chief Speaks Out During Internal Review Of Officer's Controversial Email

A Norman police officer is under internal review after a controversial email about face masks was sent to the whole department, the Norman police chief said Tuesday morning.

Officer Jacob McDonough is under internal review after supervising officers saw an email he sent in a thread about face masks, Norman police chief Kevin Foster said.

The May 5 email thread was in reference to face masks and another officer complained about the ill-fitting of the masks. McDonough sent an image from the 2012 film Django Unchained where KKK members were discussing the ill-fit of their masks. A supervising officer questioned the appropriateness of the email and ended the thread.

Foster said he was very offended when he saw the email, which was sent to all employees of the police department, and initiated an internal investigation with internal affairs.

"I was very offended and couldn't believe an officer sent that out," Foster said.

McDonough sent an email apology and said it was not his intent to be racial, Foster said.

McDonough is still active in the department and has been with the department since February 2018.

Foster said internal affairs is investigating thoroughly to determine if this email was an isolated incident for the officer.

The department is currently looking at a new program for sensitivity training.

"I believe that our in-service and prior trainings are working. That is apparent by him being called so quickly on it," Foster said. "This is the judgment of one officer, sending a photo out like that. Regardless of what he was thinking, the inappropriateness of it and how it offends people is still there."

Foster said McDonough will be facing disciplinary action depending on the findings of the internal investigation or could be fired.

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