PHOENIX -- A Phoenix police sergeant working in internal affairs had his own conduct called into question after he showed pornography to his female co-worker, according to an internal probe.

Linnea Knowles said she couldn't believe her eyes. "I wasn't sure what I was seeing and I said, ‘What is that?’" Knowles said.

It was pornography on the computer of Phoenix police Sgt. Ron Snodgrass, who worked in internal affairs.

"I said, ‘Aren't you afraid to have porn on your city computer?’ and he said, ‘Oh, I'm not going to worry about it. It's on my c-drive,’" Knowles said.

Knowles filed a complaint and an internal investigation sustained her allegations.

"It felt good, but in a way it was bittersweet because once you come forward, you have a scarlet letter on you so to speak,” she said. “You're a whistle blower."

An internal investigation board wanted to suspend Snodgrass for eight hours, but Phoenix Police Chief Jack Harris gave Snodgrass a written reprimand instead.

“It was a slap to me, and anyone else on the department," Knowles said.

CBS 5 News learned that Snodgrass sat on the Pension Board and helped Harris make the transition from chief of police to public safety manager. Harris now collects a pension and a paycheck at the same time.

"My opinion is integrity shouldn't come with a price tag, and I feel there maybe was a quid pro quo attached to this discipline," Knowles said.

The Phoenix city auditor agreed and sent a letter to Harris. The auditor concluded that the reduced discipline could be viewed as a sign of favoritism and that Harris should have recused himself from the Snodgrass disciplinary decision.

The assistant city manager weighed in on the matter as well and told Harris, "You are expected to exercise sound judgment and to be mindful of the perceptions created by your actions."