A lawyer representing a lieutenant who is suing Jackson County Sheriff Steven Rand on Wednesday released a series of audio recordings showing Rand and other officers making crude sexual comments about female county employees.
MLive.com reports that the recordings were made by sheriff's Lt. Tommy Schuette, who is filing the suit against the sheriff -- a man he claims is a "multifaceted bigot."
Among other things, the recordings show Rand and other officers in the Jackson County Sheriff's Department calling one female court employee a "c*nt" for not talking with them; making jokes about making a "snuff film" in which they "donkey punch" the employee; and commenting on a prospective female employee at the department having a "phenomenal ass."
In a voice mail left with an MLive.com reporter, Sheriff Rand said he could not comment extensively about the audio of him and his officers making lewd comments.
"There is not much I can tell you," he said. "I have not had the opportunity to speak with any legal counsel yet, nor have I seen the full allegations in the lawsuit... It would completely imprudent of me to even make any comment at this time."
Jackson County itself has denied any allegations of wrongdoing leveled against it in the lawsuit, although it says it is disturbed by the allegations made against Rand.
"The allegations, if true, are absolutely abhorrent and represent conduct that is repugnant to Jackson County's commitment as clearly set out in its many employment policies and practices," the county said.
Listen to the audio below.
