Pruitt v. Howard County Sheriff's Department

BLOOM, Judge.

In this case we are asked to determine whether certain “Nazi-like” comments and behavior of Major Donald Pruitt and Sergeant Dennis Pruitt, officers of the Howard County Sheriffs Department, were protected speech under the First Amendment. We are also asked to consider whether the officers were denied procedural due process and equal protection under the law when their punishment for misconduct resulted in the termination of their employment. We find no error in, and therefore affirm, the judgment of the Circuit Court for Howard County that affirmed the decision of the Sheriff of…