News 12 at 6 o'clock; June 12, 2008

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. --- North Augusta's Chief of Police is clearing the air on his reported suspension. News 12 has a copy of the racy e-mail that got him in trouble in the first place.

The e-mail is one of those forwards. You know, you get a joke, and pass it on to your friends. Trouble is, this e-mail made it to the wrong person, someone who found it offensive. Now, the chief is saying, 'I'm sorry'.

The e-mail is causing so much controversy. It also cost Chief Lee Wetherington, of North Augusta Department of Public Safety, a suspension.

"I was not sensitive to what I should have been sensitive to," says Chief Wetherington.

It reads, "Never use corn on the cob as a..." sex toy. Attached is a picture of a corn on the cob and then another picture attached with popcorn on a naked woman.

Chief Wetherington says this is one of similar e-mails sent over the years, "to provide levity in a sometimes stressful job."

It was sent from the Chief -- who made a slight change to the e-mail -- to others in his department.

"I received the e-mail in question from a female employee. I thought it to be both harmless and humorous," says the Chief.

That employee is apparently Tina Craig.

"My wife, my daughters, my mother and my pastor have seen this e-mail. It may have been in poor taste for some people, and for those people, I apologize," says Chief Wetherington.

The Chief recommended five people for suspension, including himself. Tina Craig said in a response, the punishment was extremely harsh and undeserved.

Captain Randy Mosley says it was not warranted.

Captain Charles Williams says it has become a "department acceptable practice" over the years to send and receive non-job related e-mails to each other. And, he does not agree with the punishment he received.

Captain Billy Lucky says the e-mails were sent to provide levity in a sometimes stressful job.

Only Chief Wetherington and Tina Craig were suspended. Craig was suspended for one day, not for the basis of the e-mails, but for the use of the city e-mail. Wetherington was suspended for five days, which he used as accrued vacation time in the last week of May.

Also, two employees of the department, John Shaw, IV and Nathan Weigle, resigned following the investigation into the controversial e-mails.