COLUMBIA, Tenn. --
A Columbia police captain has resigned after an internal investigation into text messages he's accused of sending to a teenage girl in the police department's Explorer program.
According to the Daily Herald newspaper, Capt. Hunt Blair submitted his resignation Wednesday.
Police Chief Joseph Bishop told the newspaper, that the internal investigation found Blair had engaged in conduct unbecoming of a police officer. "It was a breach of trust," Bishop said. "We were all let down."
The investigation began last month, police said, after allegations arose that Blair had frequently sent text messages to a teenage girl who is an active participant in the Columbia Police Explorer Post 786. Bishop said the program gives young people the opportunity to experience regular police duties to see if they want to pursue a career in law enforcement.
Bishop said the text messages were part of a consensual relationship between Blair and the teen that lasted between 3 to 4 months.
According to Bishop, the messages were not sexual in nature at first, but started "leading that way" shortly before the internal investigation was begun.
No photos were exchanged and there was no evidence that any sexual contact occurred, Bishop said.
Blair had just been promoted in January to patrol captain, and was a 15-year veteran of the department, police said.
Copyright 2011 by WSMV.com. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Got a story idea? E-mail newstips to [email protected] or call the newsroom 24/7
