The Drop It Like It's Hot hitmaker, real name Calvin Broadus, took the photograph with Texas State Trooper Billy Spears backstage at South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas last month (Mar15) and posted the shot on Instagram.com adding the caption, 'Me n my deputy dogg (sic)'.

Law enforcement officials saw the picture and reprimanded Spears for posing with a known criminal, because Snoop Dogg has served time in jail and been arrested for drug offences in the early 1990s.

Spears' job record now states, "While working a secondary employment job, Trooper Spears took a photo with a public figure who has a well-known criminal background including numerous drug charges. The public figure posted the photo on social media and it reflects poorly on the Agency."

However, Spears' lawyer has hit back, insisting State Trooper bosses are unfairly picking on the officer, adding, "This is not in their policy. They're making this stuff up as they go."

Snoop Dogg has since removed the photograph from his Instagram profile.