WBRZ - Baton Rouge

SORRENTO - The Sorrento police chief admitted -in a public meeting-- that he called a former police officer the 'N' word.

"Yes, I did. And I'm not going to deny it. I apologize," said Sorrento Police Chief Earl Theriot. "I have a lot of stress on my mind. I did do it; and I'm sorry.

Council member Jason Adams asked Theriot the question, point blank.

"We was told of it. And as a council we did not... Not want to act on it," said Adams.

The officer he was talking about -Tige Scott- was about to get rehired and he was present at the meeting. Scott expressed publicly his concern about the current climate inside the department.

"Mr. Scott was about to take a position back with the department and that was directed towards him. And I felt it needed to be addressed," said Adams.

Scott took the job, after Theriot apologized publicly.

"I was born and raised with black people. Some of my best friends are black people I have nothing against no body. I apologize to him [Scott]. And I want him back. He was a good officer when I had him. He did a perfect job. Never had a complaint."

People in Sorrento are happy that a new officer was hired, because the town is down at least two officers. But, people are not happy about Theriot using a derogatory term.

"I was really upset about that. You know whether it's out of anger or not. We the people in Sorrento are not like that," said Sorrento resident Mary Melancon.