ENTIRE North Carolina police department placed on administrative leave after chief and lieutenant were arrested for working a second job while on the clock

An entire North Carolina police department was placed on paid administrative leave after a city's olice chief and a lieutenant were detained on Thursday for double dipping while on the clock.

Southport Police Chief Gary Smith, 46, and 48-year-old Lt. Michael Christian Simmons were charged with conspiracy to obtain property by false pretenses, willful failure to discharge duties and obstruction of justice. 

FBI and the State Bureau of Investigation began their look into the two officers on April 4 after other officers tipped them off, District Attorney Jon David explained to 

Smith and Simmons were said to have been driving overnight shifts for an unnamed local trucking company while they were also on shift at the department. 

They often had to travel out of town for their second job, David added. 

'It is indeed that I get before you today with a heart laden with grief for all these events that happened today,' said Mayor Jerry Dove. 'It was a shock to me to hear all these, being a former chief and knowing the officers that worked in that department and hired at least half of them'

Smith was arrested early on Thursday morning and booked at the Brunswick County Detention Center with a $10,000 bond. He was released on bail. 

Simmons was taken into custody at the Thursday news conference. 

Search warrants were executed Thursday at the police department, town hall and the trucking company. 

'It is indeed that I get before you today with a heart laden with grief for all these events that happened today,' said Mayor Jerry Dove. 'It was a shock to me to hear all these, being a former chief and knowing the officers that worked in that department and hired at least half of them.' 

The Brunswick County Sheriff's Office was advised by the city board to assume all law responsibilities in the area at the meantime, Dove said.