In December 2019, an entire class of West Virginia prison guard
trainees was reportedly fired for giving the Nazi salute in
their graduation photo.
The incident is not only a chilling display of a detestable
symbol of genocide. It is also a crystal-clear example of the
problem of the passive bystander. But modern training methods,
based on current research on the science of bystandership, can help
prevent such abuses before they occur. Such programs are being
successfully adopted by law enforcement agencies and other
organizations around the country.
What happened in West Virginia: Several news
outlets have published the November graduation photo showing a
class of over 30 prison guard cadets displaying the Nazi salute.
According to published reports, the gesture was one cadet's
idea of a tribute to the group's training officer. An internal investigation of the incident found
that the training officer, Karrie Byrd, "saw nothing wrong
with the gesture and allowed it