Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell he has no plans to discipline a top aide now under fire for forwarding emails perpetuating derogatory stereotypes about Latinos, Muslims, blacks and women.

McDonnell reasoned the emails forwarded to others by Tom Angel predate his time as a member of the department and were disseminated while he was still a member of the Burbank Police department.

Angel rejoined the Sheriff's Office in 2015 as part of a team the newly elected McDonnell installed amid promises to clean up the agency and rid county jails of corruption. He was second in command with the Burbank department and was brought in to help reform a department reeling from widespread allegations of brutality, racism and sexual harassment from within its ranks.

Angel Releases Apology, but Defends Actions

Angel has since released an apology for his actions, though he also took the time to vigorously defend himself.

"Anybody in the workplace unfortunately forwards emails from time to time that they probably shouldn't have forwarded," he said. "I apologize if I offended anybody, but the intent was not for the public to have seen these jokes."

In one instance, the email forwarded by Angel read, "I took my Biology exam last Friday. I was asked to name two things commonly found in cells. Apparently, 'Blacks' and 'Mexicans' were NOT the correct answers."

Another message listed 20 reasons "Muslim Terrorists are so quick to commit suicide," listing among the answers such responses as "Towels for hats," "Constant wailing from some idiot in a tower" and "You can't wash off the smell of donkey."

While expressing his disappointment, McDonnell added "everybody's got their own take on humor." He later added, "This was divisive and nonproductive. It's a shame the whole thing happened at all."

L.A. chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations spokesperson Haroon Manjlai agreed with at least the latter part of McDonnell's statement.

"It's very concerning when they have such biases against the constituency that they have to police," she said.

Other Police Departments hit by Similar Allegations

As an at-will employee, Angel is subject to be terminated or demoted without civil service protections. The situation in L.A. County mirrors a number of recent controversies where other officers exchanged racially derogatory emails or text messages, including in San Francisco and Ferguson, Mo.

Angel's emails were only publicly disclosed after a local attorney made a records request in 2014 on behalf of his client. Part of that request sought the release of four years' worth of emails to and from top-ranking Burbank police officials containing derogatory language about Islam, African Americans, Latinos and others.

News of Angel's transgressions came just hours after authorities in San Francisco revealed an officer recently found to have sent racist and homophobic messages had resigned from the department.

In one instance, Officer Jason Lai wrote, "I hate the beaner, but I think the nig is worse."

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