Three people have been fired after a photo surfaced appearing to show trainee corrections officers in the United States making a Nazi salute.
The photo shows members of the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation, all wearing their uniforms, posing for a photo under the words "Hail Byrd!" with their arms raised.
According to the caption on the photo the cadets were part of training class number 18, and participated in the course between October 21 and November 27.
Two correctional academy trainers - one of whom took the photo - and one cadet were fired following the incident, while all other cadets in the picture were suspended without pay, according to The New York Times.
The Governor of West Virginia Jim Justice said in a statement that such activity would "not be tolerated on my watch".
The secretary of the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety, Jeff Sandy, also condemned the photo "in the strongest possible terms".
"It is distasteful, hurtful, disturbing, highly insensitive and completely inappropriate," Sandy wrote, according to the Times.
"It betrays the professionalism I have seen time and time again displayed and practised by our brave correctional employees."
Sandy said the incident was under investigation.
