Ohio Governor wants state troopers fired

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland asked the state highway patrol to fire two troopers involved in a racist prank involving a costume that resembled Klu Klux Klan attire.

Trooper Craig Franklin was pictured on Jan. 20 wearing a white cone on his head, a white paper mask and a white cloth. Trooper Eric Wlodarsky forwarded the cell phone photo.

Strickland said Tuesday the behavior by the troopers from the Sandusky post could not be tolerated.

The state's public safety director had recommended firing. However, a union contract provision had allowed them to stay on the
job if they maintained a clean record for two years.

Strickland did not address the contract provision in his news release.

Wlodarsky told an investigator there was no malicious intent behind the picture, while Franklin apologized and said he was embarrassed.