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Gov. Bev Perdue issued a statement repeating that she has "zero tolerance for unacceptable behavior" when it comes to the actions of state troopers.

Perdue also disclosed that two troopers accused of mistreating a Raleigh mother and her husband have been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of an internal affair investigation.

"We expect the absolute best from state employees," Perdue said, according to the written statement. "This incident has been under investigation since it came to light. These two troopers have been placed on administrative duty. The secretary of Crime Control and Public Safety and the colonel of the Highway Patrol will take appropriate action upon completion of their investigation.”

The investigation of Senior Trooper Edward S. Wyrick and Trooper Andrew Smith was prompted by an eight-page letter sent to Perdue Friday by Raleigh lawyer Hoyt Tessener, detailing his wife Gina's negative experience with Wyrick earlier this month in Wilmington.

The Tesseners have accused Wyrick of falsely arresting the 51-year-old mother of three, mistreating her and then orchestrating an unjustified traffic stop of her husband by Smith.

Hoyt Tessener said Thursday he is pleased to hear the troopers have been taken off the road, at least until the investigation is complete.

"That's the right thing to do," he said. "I'm thankful for the governor's actions. I hope they do have a fair and impartial investigation."

At last week's swearing in ceremony for the new commander of the N.C. Highway Patrol, Gov. Bev Perdue made clear she has a special place in her heart for lawmen.

And her office wants you to know the affection is mutual.

Perdue's staff wrote the rousing introduction delivered by Sgt. Jeff Gordon, the patrol's media spokesman:

Most of you know that Governor Perdue rides with state troopers every day. They provide her security.

What you might not know is that, as a legislator in Craven County, she also rode with troopers. She often asked for a ride along to better understand what they have to deal with on the job and what state government could do to help them.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol, and all of law enforcement in North Carolina, can claim no greater friend than Gov. Bev Perdue.

In her days as a legislator and, now, as Governor, she has fought to ensure that the troopers, officers and deputies in the state — men and women for whom risk is the first part of their job description — have the essential tools they need.

Gov. Perdue has pushed for tough and smart solutions to crime, both strong enforcement and effective prevention. She supported funding for additional prosecutors and judges, toughening of anti-gang laws and increasing penalties for offenses involving drugs and guns. ...

And when lawsuits came close to forcing an early release for dozens of violent offenders, Gov. Perdue vowed to do anything in her power to keep them in prison.

During her subsequent speech, Perdue spoke of how much she enjoys those ride alongs.

"You heard the announcer talk about the fact that I have ridden with patrolmen, and women, for years," the governor said. "I've learned more doing that than I've learned anywhere.

"Some of my friends in law enforcement know that my husband Bob gets really annoyed when I say, 'I'm gonna go out and ride with the boys.' But it's been a learning experience for me."

Add Col. Randy Glover to the list of ousted government officials then awarded the state's highest honor.

Reuben Young, the secretary for Crime Control and Public Safety, presented Glover, the former commander of the N.C. Highway Patrol, with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine at a big retirement party held last week.

“There are no finer men or women than those who serve on the patrol,” Young said, according to the New Bern Sun Journal. “There is no man more committed and passionate about the State Highway Patrol than Randy Glover.”

An old friend of Gov. Bev Perdue's, Glover commanded the patrol for 10 months. His tenure in the top job was marked by embarrassing disclosures about misconduct by troopers under his command. His resignation was announced in July, days after a contentious news conference in which Glover suggested the media was blowing the problems at the patrol out of proportion.

The governor decides who receives the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Chrissy Pearson, Perdue's spokeswoman, said it is routine for state employees who retire after 30 years of service to receive the award. A copy of the form nominating Glover simply gives "dedicated state employee" as the reason for the award, which is one of the highest honors the governor can bestow on a North Carolina citizen.

The N.C. Police Benevolent Association is urging Gov. Bev Perdue to take further action against a high-ranking state trooper forced to resign last month over inappropriate text messages sent to his secretary.

In a media release, the group's executive director, John Midgette, said former patrol Maj. Everett Clendenin should be criminally charged with misuse of state property for his use of a government-owned Blackberry to send sexually explicit texts.

“Clendenin must be held accountable for his outrageous conduct," Midgette said, according to the written release. "Governor Perdue must not tolerate his abuse any longer.”

Midgette also urged more investigation into Clendenin's role in the decisions to fire other troopers accused of misconduct, namely Sgt. Charles Jones. Clendenin served as the patrol's public information officer for 9 years.

Jones was fired in 2007 after a cell-phone video surfaced of him hanging his K-9 partner by a leash and kicking the dog five times. The PBA has said the trooper was wrongly fired and supported Jones' efforts to get his job back.

“Our Association is very familiar with Mr. Clendenin’s tactics and pattern of abusive conduct for many years where he has been a leading destructive force within the Highway Patrol and caused grave harm to Troopers statewide," Midgette said. "He has ruined the image of the Highway Patrol. His departure will hopefully help the Patrol rebuild some of its integrity.”

In a statement of his own e-mailed on Saturday, Clendenin called Midgette's release "ridiculous and inaccurate, as are most of his past comments about the Highway Patrol."

"Midgette is known for offering statements on topics he knows nothing about," Clendenin said. 

UPDATE: Response from Clendenin added.