Texas Sheriff Apologizes For Staff's Religiously Insensitive E-Mails

For the second time this month, Harris County, Texas, Sheriff Tommy Thomas apologized for e-mails sent by his staff. Yesterday's Houston Chronicle reported that Thomas appeared personally before the Islamic Society of Greater Houston to apologize for e-mails forwarded by Chief Deputy Mike Smith that offended Muslims. One used Muhammad's name to make a joke about eating pork; a second involved cartoons about Muslim terrorists. Last week other e-mails that were racist, insensitive or off color were revealed when a local TV station sued to prevent them from being deleted.