Dispatcher Resigns When Porn Inquiry Begins

Officials in the Village of Southampton (NY) have issued a new regulation that sets out appropriate use of police computers after a reporter’s tip led to the discovery of pornographic photos and chat session logs. Police chief William Wilson Jr. began an investigation immediately after receiving the tip last April, and the next day an unnamed dispatcher resigned citing personal reasons. The next week, a sergeant filed papers for retirement. Wilson said investigators later found a sexually explicit video and several photos on a computer used exclusively by one employee, and similar e-mail messages and chat logs on two shared computers. The dispatcher reportedly was a three-year employee, with six years at another police department. Wilson would not name either departing employee, but the 27East Web site did name the female dispatcher, who told a reporter that her departure was related to child care. Both employees worked the 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. shift. Wilson said the new policy sets out the department’s right to review all data on its computers, and that accessing or sending sexually explicit materials, or downloading/importing files is prohibited. Read more about the incident here (read the comments) and about the employees here.