MARSHVILLE — Two suspended Marshville police officers who were the subjects of a suggestive photograph have been reinstated, but were not given back pay.

Lt. Matt Tarlton and Officer Darryl Gerald were suspended Oct. 21 after Town Councilwoman Gail Kiker showed the board a photo she said was offensive.

In the photo, the officers were seated, holding bananas with chocolate sauce between their thighs as an unidentified woman sprayed whipping cream on the bananas. The officers and the woman are fully clothed and in civilian clothing. They also have whipped cream on their heads and shoulders. There is no indication when the photo was taken.

The Marshville Town Council voted unanimously to reinstate both officers, but did not pay them for the time they served their suspensions.

Council members said they could not offer official comments because all discussion was in closed session.

Speaking personally, Councilwoman Denise Whitley said she did not condone the activity depicted in the picture.

“I still think it is inappropriate and an embarrassment to the town and the Police Department,” she said. Whitley added that she voted to reinstate the officers because she was tired of the conflict between the Town Council and the Police Department and thought disciplinary action should come from within the department or a higher police authority.

The officers served 10 days of the 30-day suspensions. Police Chief Mike Gaddy was in the closed session discussion, but said he could not comment. Gaddy was not present during the closed session in which the decision was made to suspend the officers last month.

Mayor Frank Deese said he thought it would have been appropriate to give the officers back pay, but he votes only in the case of a tie. The Town Council voted unanimously to not pay the officers while they were suspended.

Also, Gaddy said Officer Stuart Chaffin was still going through the training process. Chaffin was fired by Gaddy last month, but then re-hired by the Town Council. Gaddy did not know when Chaffin would complete his preliminary paperwork and training.