MINOT (AP) - Ward County Sheriff Vern Erck says he will take disciplinary action against himself for inappropriate comments he made to an employee.

Erck told the Ward County Commission he will take a five-day suspension without pay and be on two years probation. He says it's the same penalty that would be given to any of his deputies or staff members.

The sheriff apologized earlier for comments he made over the phone to a female jail supervisor.

Erck said it happened while he was drinking in a bar with friends and didn't know who he was talking to when someone handed him the phone.