Tenn. trooper suspended after sending white pride e-mail to 100s of state employees by mistake

Associated Press

Last update: November 13, 2009 - 2:40 PM

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A Tennessee state trooper who accidentally sent an e-mail proclaiming white pride to 787 state employees has been suspended for 15 days without pay and will have to attend diversity training.

The e-mail from Trooper Brent Gobbell states, in part, "You rob us, carjack us, and shoot at us. But, when a white police officer shoots a black gang member ... you call him a racist." It also includes a list of racist epithets.

The state Department of Safety says Gobbell sent the e-mail to himself so he could print a copy. He did not realize he had also sent it to hundreds of state employees.

An investigation revealed that Gobbell later deleted his responses to the original e-mail and attempted to delete the original too. Gobbell has apologized.

Recent Nation stories

The nation's weather - November 13, 2009

The nation's weather - A low-pressure system that has lingered in the Gulf of Mexico the past few days, bringing rain to the Gulf Coast, was expected to finally move inland into the Southeast on Sunday. This was likely to translate to widespread rain and even a few thunderstorms in the area even as the system weakens while moving toward the Southeast coast. More