Port of Seattle police officers were caught sending pornographic and racist e-mails on government computers, on government time. Tuesday in an unusual move, the Port Commission used information from KING 5 reports to call for an independent investigation into how the department handled so called "E-gate."

In the Port Commissioner's meeting, it was voted unanimously to immediately hire an outside, independent investigator to look at everything involved with E-gate – from the contents of the scandal to the handling of the case by the police department.

They also want this investigator to find out if the right sort of discipline was handed out, if officers should be suspended or even fired.

"I am particularly repulsed by this on behalf of women and minorities and others as well," said Pat Davis, Port Commissioner.

Port commissioners blasted police command staff today saying they were originally misled about E-gate.

At first, the commissioners were told the e-mails were Playboy-magazine-type stuff. Then the KING 5 Investigators broke the story last week laying out the truth.

"What I saw on TV was a lot more extensive than that and that troubles me," said Bob Edwards, Port Commissioner. 

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Over a two-year period, 32 officers either received, saved, or passed on more than 175 inappropriate e-mails.

"But I am very upset that I and my fellow commissioners had to learn about the repugnant content of these e-mails primarily through media reports," said John Creighton, Commission President.

KING 5 Investigators found 32 officers – nearly one-third of the entire force – either received, saved or passed on more than 175 inappropriate e-mails over a two-year period. And against Port policy, not one of them reported it.

The e-mails include cartoons demeaning to Muslims, offensive jokes about Asians, a racist video with derogatory remarks about African Americans, and one video targeting Hispanics.

The discipline: Port Police Chief Tim Kimsey handed out nine letters of reprimand for officers who passed on offensive material.

Some commissioners said the police blew it and that a tougher message should have been sent.

When asked, if as an elected official Port Commissioner Lloyd Hara was disappointed, he said: "Absolutely. It think it is much more serious that I think is being portrayed."

At first Chief Kimsey wouldn't talk to KING 5, but on Tuesday, the Investigators caught up with him after the meeting. He stands by his decision.

"And it certainly doesn't condone or support in any way, shape or form what they did. As we said in there, I think at this point in time, I'm comfortable with the decisions that were made," he said.

During the KING 5 investigation, both current and former Port of Seattle police employees came to KING 5 to tell their stories. They say that this E-gate scandal is just the tip of the iceberg, that similar problems – of pornographic materials left around the department, as an example – have been going on for years and that management ignored it.