Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington has suspended Sgt. Scott Kreher, the police union head who said he wanted to beat Mayor Shirley Franklin with a bat.

Kreher spoke at a city council meeting about the difficulty some officers are having getting workers' compensations from the city. He later apologized for the angry comment about the mayor.

In a statement Saturday night, the chief said Kreher would be relieved of duty and placed on paid administrative leave pending a psychological evaluation.

Pennington said the police department does not condone nor will the department tolerate supervisors making irresponsible and inflammatory remarks against the mayor or any Atlanta citizen.

Kreher could not be reached Saturday night for comment.