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Fruitland Park police chief shocked by allegations that former officers were KKK members

FRUITLAND PARK, Fla. — Channel 9 talked to the Fruitland Park police chief after two former officers were accused of being members of the Ku Klux Klan.

Police Chief Terry Isaacs said he's known one of the former officers for 20 years and the allegations came as a shock.

"I'm very upset. It's despicable," Isaacs said.

A still-classified probe by the FBI uncovered that the chief's second-in-command and a patrol officer were allegedly members of the KKK.

"To find out two of your officers are involved in an organization such as this is, shocking, appalling," City Manager Gary Lavenia said.

Lavenia and Isaacs detailed their reasoning to confront Deputy Chief David Borst and Officer George Hunnewell about the allegations.

"We do have one policy that states, 'We will not be a member of or associate with subversive organizations,'" Isaacs said.

Borst, who is a 20-year law enforcement veteran and also the city's fire chief, tearfully resigned amid the allegations.

Hunnewell was fired from the police department.

"He has had some issues, primarily with his job performance," Hunnewell said.

It's not the first time the Fruitland Park Police Department has dealt with similar accusations against officers. James Elkins, another Fruitland Park officer, resigned back in 2009 after admitting to being a member of the KKK.