MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT) -- Rutherford County Sheriff Robert Arnold has announced a disciplinary action against his Chief Deputy, Joe Russell.
In an Action Report emailed to the media yesterday, Arnold says Russell has been suspended for 10 days without pay.
The report says Russell violated two policies included in the Sheriff’s Office employee handbook. It says Russell used his official county email address to conduct private business. It also says Russell failed to report his employment by an “outside” company.
Along with members of Sheriff Arnold’s family, Russell is reportedly part owner of a company that was providing e-cigarette devices and supplies to inmates of the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center. The jail is administered by the Sheriff’s Office.
Both Deputy Russell and Sheriff Arnold are under investigation by the State Comptrollers Office for questionable business dealings.
Sheriff Arnold is also being investigated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.