E-mails to be scanned for porn

RENO -- Nevada higher education officials said e-mails sent by University of Nevada, Reno police will be reviewed to ensure pornographic photographs no longer are being circulated among officers.

The action was prompted by fired UNR women's soccer coach Terri Patraw, who earlier this month gave the Board of Regents copies of pornographic photos e-mailed in 2002 by a member of UNR's police department to other officers, including the police chief.

Patraw presented downloaded photos of more than 40 salacious and pornographic e-mails that had been sent on company time using UNR computers.

"The evidence clearly shows that (Assistant Chief) Todd Renwick and (Chief) Adam Garcia, the top two in command, are spending valuable time and the university resources demeaning and objectifying women rather than protecting them," Patraw said.

Garcia said the pornographic e-mails were circulated more than five years ago by Renwick, and the issue is "old news."

He said he disciplined Renwick and ordered members of the department not to send or open any more inappropriate e-mails.

Garcia declined to disclose the discipline Renwick faced, saying it was a confidential personnel matter.

"They're saying this stuff is still going on today, and that is inappropriate," Garcia said, referring to Patraw and UNR police Sgt. Lane Grow, who both have lawsuits pending against UNR.

"I think they are using the media. The problem was dealt with," he added.

UNR President Milton Glick said system officials will look into whether pornographic e-mails have been sent within the department in recent years.

"If this all occurred in 2002, it appears to me that if it stopped then, there's not a great deal to investigate," Glick said.

"If in fact it continues, then I think that changes the nature," he said. "That's something we are going to ask counsel to look into. Is it all 2002 or is there anything more recent, say in the last three years, of similar material?"