Pulaski County Deputy Suspended After Damage to Marina

The Pulaski County Deputy accused of causing thousands in damage to a marina gate will take a four week vacation without pay.

The Pulaski County sheriff says he's never given out a four week suspension. He calls the punishment severe but necessary for a lieutenant he expects should be held to a higher standard.

You may remember this incident. Fourth of July weekend, Garland County Deputies say they received a call to Brady Mountain Marina.

Lt. Corey Lawson, they say, got into a fight with his girlfriend, pushed her and then rammed a gate twice with his truck, eventually knocking it down before taking off: a total damage cost of $15,000.

The marina though decided not to press charges, saying Lt. Lawson had promised to pay for the damage.

Monday, we reviewed a copy of the complete internal investigation on the matter, including copies of our own news stories on it.

Pulaski County Sheriff Doc Holladay says they couldn't confirm the domestic abuse claims. Without criminal charges, he says, they didn't have enough to warrant firing the deputy.

But he says the suspension is still appropriate.

"Certainly it's clear that he did not use good judgment and he created a circumstance that should not have occurred and brought attention to himself and this agency and he's being held accountable for that," said Sheriff Holladay.

We received a copy of the Sheriff's Office Code of Standards.

Number one: ensuring that the office is portrayed positively.

That's the violation they got Lt. Lawson on here.

He will be allowed back to work August 27th.