A Pinellas County deputy has resigned after offensive content was found on his personal cell phone during a separate investigation into an alleged extramarital affair with a corrections deputy.
Shawn Pappas, 46, was employed with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office for 10 years before he resigned at the end of February. He became a corporal approximately 3 years ago.
The content on his phone was racist, sexist and pornographic in nature. There were dozens of pornographic photos of women and offensive memes that were sent and received while Pappas was both on and off duty.
One of the memes mocked the Women's March in D.C. and said "In one day, Trump got more fat women out walking, than Michelle Obama did in 8 years."
Another showed a white child next to a monkey and reads "Stop Racism, black children and white children are the same."
There were also memes sent that mocked people with Down Syndrome, gay men and American Indians.
Investigators also discovered videos Pappas made while on duty.
When Pappas was confronted about the content, he resigned from the Sheriff's Office. Investigators say they would have fired him, had he not resigned.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office issued the following statement about Pappas' misconduct:
"Former Deputy Shawn Pappas’ conduct was vulgar and reprehensible. This isolated conduct will not be tolerated and is not representative of the many law enforcement professionals within the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Pappas immediately resigned upon being confronted with his gross misconduct and if he had not immediately resigned he would have been fired. Pappas’ lack of character and his bigoted perspective have no place in law enforcement. All members of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s office are held accountable for their actions and that occurred with Pappas’ separation from employment."
