04-08-2009, 11:45 AM
Details were released Tuesday about the reasons behind last month's demotion and subsequent firing of a 10-year veteran of the Lee County Sheriff's Office.
Lt. Lee Bushong, 34, was demoted after sending a threatening e-mail to employees, and was fired after calling one of those employees and swearing at him, according to internal affairs reports.
It started in late January. Bushong, reports said, sent an e-mail warning his employees in the Intelligence Unit against taking consecutive vacation weeks. In the e-mail, the investigation indicated he singled out Deputy Steve Drum, who took time off to tend to a child after surgery.
Bushong also told employees he would, "hang a small portion of your (expletive) on my wall for decoration" if the directive wasn't followed.
One of the employees forwarded the e-mail to superiors.
Bushong was questioned, and admitted to sending the e-mail, agreeing it was unprofessional. He was found to have violated the agency's policies with improper conduct and insubordination by abusiveness, and was demoted to deputy.
Then in March, another investigation was initiated after it was alleged Bushong called Drum, swore at him repeatedly and called him names. Bushong later said he wanted to ask Drum why he didn't follow the chain of command.
Per agency policy, employees are to be placed on paid administrative leave pending outcome of an internal affairs investigation. Orders were given to Maj. Scott Ciresi to inform Bushong he was being placed on leave while he was investigated for his conduct toward Drum.
However, the report states, Ciresi passed off the duty to a lieutenant. There are conflicting statements, but somehow, three other lieutenants came along to help deliver the news to Bushong, who was cleaning out his office. One of those, Lt. Shane Hingson, had been involved in an earlier dispute weeks prior with Bushong, Capt. Dominick Ferrante (who later resigned) and Capt. Gary Kamp.
When the three lieutenants arrived, Bushong became upset. Hingson eventually summoned Ciresi because it was "getting ugly."
It was later determined Ciresi "mishandled" the situation by allowing the lieutenants to deliver the news to Bushong, but no formal investigation was conducted.
Ciresi was later demoted from major to captain, although the reason given by the sheriff's office was it was part of the agency's restructuring.
On March 25, Bushong's second internal investigation determined he was abusive to Drum, but did not find he was insubordinate to the three lieutenants. He was fired Friday.
Bushong is appealing the decision; he could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
In a statement, Sheriff Mike Scott said, "It is always regrettable to part company under unfavorable circumstances; however, inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated."
Lt. Lee Bushong, 34, was demoted after sending a threatening e-mail to employees, and was fired after calling one of those employees and swearing at him, according to internal affairs reports.
It started in late January. Bushong, reports said, sent an e-mail warning his employees in the Intelligence Unit against taking consecutive vacation weeks. In the e-mail, the investigation indicated he singled out Deputy Steve Drum, who took time off to tend to a child after surgery.
Bushong also told employees he would, "hang a small portion of your (expletive) on my wall for decoration" if the directive wasn't followed.
One of the employees forwarded the e-mail to superiors.
Bushong was questioned, and admitted to sending the e-mail, agreeing it was unprofessional. He was found to have violated the agency's policies with improper conduct and insubordination by abusiveness, and was demoted to deputy.
Then in March, another investigation was initiated after it was alleged Bushong called Drum, swore at him repeatedly and called him names. Bushong later said he wanted to ask Drum why he didn't follow the chain of command.
Per agency policy, employees are to be placed on paid administrative leave pending outcome of an internal affairs investigation. Orders were given to Maj. Scott Ciresi to inform Bushong he was being placed on leave while he was investigated for his conduct toward Drum.
However, the report states, Ciresi passed off the duty to a lieutenant. There are conflicting statements, but somehow, three other lieutenants came along to help deliver the news to Bushong, who was cleaning out his office. One of those, Lt. Shane Hingson, had been involved in an earlier dispute weeks prior with Bushong, Capt. Dominick Ferrante (who later resigned) and Capt. Gary Kamp.
When the three lieutenants arrived, Bushong became upset. Hingson eventually summoned Ciresi because it was "getting ugly."
It was later determined Ciresi "mishandled" the situation by allowing the lieutenants to deliver the news to Bushong, but no formal investigation was conducted.
Ciresi was later demoted from major to captain, although the reason given by the sheriff's office was it was part of the agency's restructuring.
On March 25, Bushong's second internal investigation determined he was abusive to Drum, but did not find he was insubordinate to the three lieutenants. He was fired Friday.
Bushong is appealing the decision; he could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
In a statement, Sheriff Mike Scott said, "It is always regrettable to part company under unfavorable circumstances; however, inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated."