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State Transportation Employee On Leave After Being Linked To Offensive Facebook Post

Twitter.com

An employee of the Oregon Department of Transportation is being investigated for an offensive Facebook post involving immigrants.

Lori McCallen is on leave while ODOT officials review the matter. She’s been with the department for 10 months.

McCallen’s Facebook page is not accessible. But screengrabs of a post reportedly from her, say –“I personally think they should shoot them all at the border and call it good. It’ll save us hard working Americans billions of dollars on our taxes!!”

The post follows days of controversy over the Trump Administration’s handling of detainees, including the separation of children from their parents.

An ODOT spokesman says the comment does not reflect the department’s values, and calls it “deeply disturbing and hurtful”.

Many online users are calling for McCallen to be fired.

Copyright 2018, KLCC.

Brian Bull is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Oregon, and remains a contributor to the KLCC news department. He began working with KLCC in June 2016.   In his 27+ years as a public media journalist, he's worked at NPR, Twin Cities Public Television, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including four national Edward R. Murrow Awards (22 regional),  the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award, Best Radio Reporter from  the Native American Journalists Association, and the PRNDI/NEFE Award for Excellence in Consumer Finance Reporting.
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