Detective fired for posting meme on immigration rights after Homeland Security seen in Liberty

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Just over two weeks after a sheriff’s deputy was placed on leave for his alleged online conduct, it was announced that his employment has been terminated for violating employee standards agreements.

According to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Tom Butkovich “violated [the office’s] Conduct and Member Speech, Expression and Social Networking policies” on Feb. 7, 2025, when he left a meme regarding immigration rights in a Facebook comment.

The meme was a photo of what appeared to be President Donald Trump pointing a firearm out of a vehicle’s window. The text overlaying the photo indicated that Hispanic Americans should be fearful.

The Member Speech, Expression and Social Networking policy the sheriff’s office cited explains that of the department are “held to a higher standard than general of the public.”

“ are cautioned that speech on or off-duty, made pursuant to their official duties, is not protected under the First Amendment,” the policy says in part.

Butkovich’s meme was left on another ’s Facebook post regarding an incident earlier that day in Liberty, Missouri when Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents were seen at El Potro Mexican Restaurant. The restaurant’s manager said multiple people were taken into custody.

HSI has not responded to either of KCTV5′s inquiries asking to confirm this information.

After the incident at El Potro, photos and videos were circulated widely online, gaining hundreds of reshares and comments. s began to point out that one of the commenters appeared to be Butkovich, as the profile had his name and headshot as its profile photo, and said the meme he used was not appropriate.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Deputy on leave for alleged comment posted after Homeland Security seen in Liberty

Sheriff Will Akin responded online stating that Butkovich had been placed on istrative leave and the next day, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office issued the following statement:

“Our professional standards (some other agencies call them internal affairs) investigators will gather evidence and conduct interviews with the goal of determining whether the employee violated any of our policies or procedures. In this case, they will be looking at our Conduct policy and our Member Speech, Expression and Social Media policy. Their investigation could always lead them in other directions, too. Investigators also will work to determine whether it was actually the deputy who posted it or if someone happened to clone his and do so.”

Just over two weeks later, on Feb. 25, 2025, the sheriff’s office responded with the findings of their investigation, confirming that Butkovich’s employment was terminated.

“The Professional Standards investigation into a meme posted on social media by a Clay County Sheriff’s Office detective on Feb. 7 has now concluded. The investigation found the detective violated our Conduct and Member Speech, Expression and Social Networking policies. Therefore, the detective’s employment has been terminated. As this is a personnel matter, no further information will be released.”

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