MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Memphis' top cop calls the arrest of another fellow officer inexcusable. Memphis police officer Sean McWhirter is the latest MPD officer in trouble.
The five year veteran was arrested at a Mississippi hotel Sunday on charges of prostitution and sex trafficking.
Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong wasn't short of words when describing how he felt about McWhirter's arrest.
"It's frustrating, it's disappointing. Every time you tell yourself it can't get any worse or I've heard everything," he said. "There's a certain sector of our officers that feel like that they're above the law, that the rules and regulations don't apply to them... You can't be a thug and police officer at the same time."
According to the FBI, McWhirter was one of those officers. He is accused of being a pimp and a sex trafficker. The FBI alleges that for more than a year McWhirter was prostituting women, and took them from Memphis to Tunica for the purpose of selling sex.
His latest trip was Sunday, which turned out to be his last. When he arrived at a Tunica hotel with two women, FBI agents locked him up.
"It's painfully clear that this officer made up his mind that being an officer wasn't suiting his needs so we'll help him out," Armstrong added. "It's one thing I will not tolerate is someone dishonoring the badge."
McWhirter is out of jail on a $10,000 bond. He's been relieved of duty with pay pending the outcome of the investigation.
