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Police Officer Suspended for Displaying "Oath Keepers" Hat

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ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Anne Arundel County police say an officer has been suspended for displaying a hat bearing the name of an anti-government group in a cruiser.

Media outlets report that department spokesman Lt. Ryan Frashure confirmed Tuesday that the officer's police powers were suspended pending the outcome of an internal investigation. A photo of the hat, which displayed the name "Oath Keepers," was shared with the department Monday after it was spotted in a grocery store parking lot.

The organization is made up of current and former military and police who vow to uphold the Constitution, but it has caught the attention of hate-watch groups.

Chief Timothy Altomare says the hat appears to violate the department's policy against officers espousing political beliefs and such conduct won't be tolerated.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.