Ranting E-mail May Have Cost State Employee His Job

By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A state employee was fired after being arrested for drugs at a checkpoint Saturday, but that may have not been the real reason he was fired. An e-mail the employee sent to the Oklahoma County Sheriff may have been what cost him his job.

The Oklahoma County Sheriff said he didn't think much about the e-mail at first, but after closer inspection, he realized the nasty note came from a state employee.

When sheriff deputies set up a traffic checkpoint along I-44 Saturday, they found all kinds of drivers including drunk drivers, illegal drivers and drivers with drugs.

"If we save one life tonight, this will be well worth it," said Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel on Saturday regarding the checkpoints.

But there was one driver who ranted the checkpoints where more about money than saving lives. In fact, the man was so mad, he fired off a scathing e-mail to the Oklahoma County Sheriff on Monday calling him a "hypocrite" and saying "it's a shame that he puts the citizens of Oklahoma through such nonsense when the real reason [for the checkpoints] is the almighty dollar."

"I began putting together a response because I didn't want our citizens thinking that the reason we did this is for money," Whetsel said.

It turns out the e-mail came from a 29-year-old state employee from Moore, Evan White. White was arrested at the checkpoint for possession of marijuana. He worked at HealthChoice, a state insurance agency, and the e-mail White sent Sheriff Whetsel came from his work computer.

Read the entire e-mail conversation between Sheriff Whetsel and Evan White

"I was first of all shocked that he would write that kind of an e-mail on state time and using a state computer," Whetsel said.

HealthChoice officials said the company strictly enforces a policy that prohibits employees from using company equipment for personal use.

Whetsel agreed the computer should not have been used to send the e-mail and sarcastically Whetsel replied saying "the citizens of Oklahoma should be really proud of you."

Thirty minutes later, White, knowing he was outed, wrote back, but this time using a personal email saying "I just wanted to voice my frustration at a system that unjustly penalizes marijuana users. I do appreciate your time."

"He was a lot more polite in that e-mail," Whetsel said.

Evans said he regretted sending the e-mail and was "remorseful" and "sorry" for the incident.

White faces two charges, including one felony, related to his arrested on Saturday. Ninety-one other people were also arrested at checkpoints Saturday for various violations.