{"id":1828368,"date":"2023-01-30T08:05:01","date_gmt":"2023-01-30T13:05:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1828368"},"modified":"2023-01-30T08:07:54","modified_gmt":"2023-01-30T13:07:54","slug":"georgia-cop-resigns-after-suspension-for-religious-post-on-gay-marriage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/georgia-cop-resigns-after-suspension-for-religious-post-on-gay-marriage\/","title":{"rendered":"Georgia Cop Resigns After Suspension for Religious Post on Gay Marriage"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgeorgia-cop-resigns-after-suspension-for-religious-post-on-gay-marriage%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1828368&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47-->\n<p class=\"speakable\">A former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/us\/us-regions\/southeast\/georgia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Georgia police officer<\/a> Who was investigated in connection to a post on religious social media that claimed &#8220;there&#8217;s no such thing&#8221; He said that he felt pressured by his boss to resign because he believed he would be fired for expressing his beliefs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"speakable\">Jacob Kersey (age 19), quit the Port Wentworth Police Department in the beginning of this month. Fox News Digital reported that he was placed on administrative leave Jan. 4, paid for refusing to remove a Facebook post he had made about his Christian beliefs about marriage.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;God designed marriage,&#8221; Kersey wrote the following post, which was flagged and removed by his superiors &#8220;an anonymous complaint,&#8221; According to Jan. 13 notification letter <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailysignal.com\/2023\/01\/25\/exclusive-police-officer-resigns-after-being-put-on-leave-for-facebook-post-on-traditional-marriage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Report by the Daily Signal<\/a> Fox News Digital. &#8220;Marriage refers to Christ and the church. That&#8217;s why there&#8217;s no such thing as homosexual marriage.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Kersey was not fired following the investigation. However, he stated that he quit because he was warned he could be terminated for posting offensive social media content. He claimed that he spoke with a lawyer about legal action.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/christian-charity-worker-faces-potential-jail-time-fine-speaking-leaving-lgbt-lifestyle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>CHRISTIAN CHARITY WORKER GETS POTENTIAL JAIL TIME. FINE AFTER TALKING ABOUT LEAVING LESBIAN LIVES.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 767px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/640\/320\/JacobKersey1.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1\" alt=\"Former police officer Jacob Kersey said he was effectively forced to resign from his job after being told he could be terminated for posting his religious beliefs on social media.\"   style=\"display:none\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p>\n Jacob Kersey was a former officer in police and claimed that he was made to resign for his religious views on social media.<br \/>\n      <span class=\"copyright\">(Jacob Kersey)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Maj. Bradwick Sherrod wrote Kersey explaining that although the department was investigating his social media posts, &#8220;did not find sufficient evidence to establish a violation of any policies,&#8221; His posts about &#8220;protected classes&#8221; Such as the LGBTQ community &#8220;could raise reasonable concerns regarding your objectivity and the performance of your job duties when a member or suspected member of the LGBTQ+ community is involved.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;As we have discussed previously, please be reminded that if any post on any of your social media platforms, or any other statement or action, renders you unable to perform, and to be seen as able to perform, your job in a fair and equitable manner, you could be terminated,&#8221; The letter is as follows:<\/p>\n<p>Kersey was also reminded that same-sex marriage in Georgia and America is legal following Obergefell V. Hodges, the Supreme Court&#8217;s 2015 decision.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/police-apologize-pay-christian-evangelist-who-was-wrongfully-arrested-twice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>POLICE APOLOGIZE. PAY CHRISTIAN EVANGELIST WHO WAS WRONGFULLY Arrased TWICE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 767px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/640\/320\/Kersey-letter.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1\" alt=\"The letter of notification sent to Jacob Kersey on Jan. 13 informing him that same-sex marriage is legal in Georgia and that he could be terminated for future posts on social media.\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p>\n Jacob Kersey was notified by a letter on January 13 that it is legal to have same-sex marriages in Georgia. He could also be terminated if he posts on social media.<br \/>\n      <span class=\"copyright\">(Jacob Kersey)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;I did nothing wrong, and they told me that,&#8221; Kersey spoke of a meeting that he had later with the department leaders. &#8220;That&#8217;s the reason they did not fire me. They wanted me to come back to work, but they were trying to create a new department policy that would prevent me from saying anything that someone somewhere could consider offensive.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>He claimed that he was instructed to post direct Scripture quotes, but not his interpretation.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;That is such <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/us\/personal-freedoms\/first-amendment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a dangerous precedent<\/a>: that if you&#8217;re off-duty on your own time, that you could say anything \u2014 even something religious, even something at church \u2014 if someone somewhere gets offended, you can get fired for it,&#8221; He stated.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/democrat-run-tourist-town-north-carolina-sees-violent-crime-spike-as-police-dwindle-perfect-storm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>DEMOCRAT RUN TOURIST TOWN IN THE NORTH CAROLINA SEES VIOLENT CRIMESPIKE AS A POLICE DWINDLE \u2018PERFECT STORM\u2019<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Kersey said that he had been hosting a podcast for seven year and that his chief likened him to someone who uses N-word slurs. To avoid termination and possible danger, he decided that he needed to resign.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t feel confident that if I were to go out there on the streets and enforce the law, that my command staff was going to have my back,&#8221; He stated. &#8220;It&#8217;s just too dangerous of a job to do that. And I did not think it wise to go back to work under those circumstances.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think if you compromise your integrity and your religious beliefs and your faith to win, then you&#8217;ve lost, and I just couldn&#8217;t do that,&#8221; He added.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 767px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/640\/320\/PortWentworth.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1\" alt=\"A residential area in Port Wentworth, Georgia, a town of approximately 11,000 people in the Savannah metropolitan area.\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p>\n Port Wentworth, Georgia is home to approximately 11,000 people.<br \/>\n      <span class=\"copyright\">(Hal Bergman via Getty Images).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Fox News Digital asked the Port Wentworth Police Department to comment. It serves approximately 11,000 people in Savannah.<\/p>\n<p>Kersey stated that other officers from the department had privately communicated their support to him, and they are not to blame for not publicly defending him.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I totally understand why other officers don&#8217;t want to speak out,&#8221; He stated. &#8220;I&#8217;m a 19-year-old single young man. I don&#8217;t have a lot of financial responsibilities, so I&#8217;m able to speak out against this because the only thing I have to lose really is my job.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>He is more worried about what these policies might mean for officers with more to lose.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/tennessee-cop-fired-sex-romps-faced-termination-preventable-traffic-accidents-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TENNESSEE, COP FIRED FOR SEX ROMPS SUSPECTED TERMINATION \u2018PREVENTABLE\u2019 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS REPORT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We are not.&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/canadian-pastor-repeatedly-jailed-over-covid-protocols-to-face-final-trial-crazy-stuff\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Canada<\/a> Kersey added that Russia or China were both represented here. &#8220;We&#8217;re talking about the United States; and even within the United States, we&#8217;re not talking about California or New York. We&#8217;re talking about Georgia.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>He stated that many people have reached out to them to express their gratitude. &#8220;absolute disbelief that something like this is happening in America and that it&#8217;s happening in Georgia.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 767px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/640\/320\/JacobKersey2.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1\" alt=\"Jacob Kersey said he wanted to become a police officer because of the positive impact officers made on him when he was growing up in a broken home.\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p>\n Jacob Kersey stated that he wanted to be a police officer due to the positive influence officers had on him growing up in a home with broken homes.<br \/>\n      <span class=\"copyright\">(Jacob Kersey)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Kersey shared that he learned respect from both <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/us\/crime\/police-and-law-enforcement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Admiration for the police<\/a> They are often a good idea. &#8220;would bring peace&#8221; His family when he was growing up with broken homes.<\/p>\n<p>He recalled how many officers who were involved in his family\u2019s domestic problems would show kindness to him as a boy. &#8220;made such a massive difference in my life at a very young age.&#8221; He said that these interactions eventually inspired him to become an Officer himself, when he was old enough.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I joined the police department, and for over eight months, I only heard great things about my work,&#8221; He stated. &#8220;People had nothing but good things to say about my work as a police officer.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 767px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/640\/320\/thumbnail_IMG_8598.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1\" alt=\"Jacob Kersey told Fox News Digital that he hopes his story will encourage other people and especially Christians to stand up for their beliefs.\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p>\n Fox News Digital&#8217;s Jacob Kersey said that he hopes his story inspires others, especially Christians, to stand for their beliefs.<br \/>\n      <span class=\"copyright\">(Jacob Kersey)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Kersey stated that he&#8217;s not sure what his future career plans are after he leaves the department. However, he indicated that he was considering returning to law enforcement, going to college, or joining the ministry. He said he hopes that others will be inspired by his story to stand for what they believe.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/apps-products\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO GET FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In America, most Americans will not be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/christian-persecution-rising-around-world-amid-jihadism-totalitarianism-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Face physical death<\/a> He spoke out in support of our beliefs. &#8220;But we might be called to face the death of our dreams, we might be called to face the death of our reputation, or we might be called to have other people think bad things about us. But what&#8217;s important is what God thinks about us.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-bio\">\n<p>Fox News Digital writer Jon Brown Send story tips to jon.brown@fox.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A former Georgia police officer Who was investigated in connection to a post on religious social media that claimed &#8220;there&#8217;s no such thing&#8221; He said that he felt pressured by his boss to resign because he believed he would be fired for expressing his beliefs. Jacob Kersey (age 19), quit the Port Wentworth Police Department &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1828371,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[547],"tags":[7892,7644,4977,6205,4899,4054,4975,7326],"class_list":["post-1828368","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-bongino-report","tag-cop","tag-gay","tag-georgia","tag-marriage","tag-post","tag-religious","tag-resigns","tag-suspension"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1828368","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1828368"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1828368\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1828371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1828368"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1828368"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1828368"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}