In a move that has shocked Jewish and pro-Israel communities across North America, an Oregon state arbitrator has ordered the reinstatement of Shawn Sorensen, a Wasco County probation officer fired for repeatedly using Nazi salutes and phrases in the workplace. Sorensen, who greeted a German-descended colleague with the Nazi salute and “Mein Führer,” and participated in other disturbing exchanges, was terminated in 2023 after an internal investigation revealed a pattern of egregious, antisemitic conduct.
The arbitrator’s decision, citing Sorensen’s lack of prior discipline and a “casual office culture,” reduced his punishment to a written reprimand and ordered his return to work with back pay and benefits. This ruling flies in the face of the clear, unequivocal stance that public servants must be held to the highest standards, especially when it comes to combating hate and antisemitism.
Wasco County Sheriff Lane Magill, who fired Sorensen and another involved officer, condemned the ruling as a threat to the integrity of law enforcement and public safety. “We cannot tolerate a hostile work environment and will not allow antisemitic behavior at our office,” Magill stated, vowing to fight the reinstatement in court if necessary. The Department of Public Safety Standards and Training continues to review the case, and Sorensen remains off the job pending further legal action.
Let’s be clear: Nazi salutes and Holocaust mockery are not “goofiness” or harmless jokes, they are acts of hate that recall the darkest chapter of Jewish history, responsible for the murder of six million Jews and millions of others. When such behavior is excused or minimized, it sends a chilling message to Jewish communities: antisemitism is tolerated, even in the halls of justice.
This case is a wake-up call for all who care about the fight against antisemitism and the safety of Jewish people in America. Public institutions must have zero tolerance for Nazi symbols, gestures, or rhetoric. Anything less is a betrayal of the values of justice, equality, and respect that define our society, and a dangerous precedent that risks emboldening hate.
Oregon’s Jewish leadership demands accountability, not excuses. The reinstatement of a public servant who glorifies Nazi imagery is unacceptable. Oregon, and every state, must ensure that those entrusted with public safety are held to the highest moral and ethical standards, with no room for antisemitism in any form.