Council to appeal Williford’s return

FLORENCE – Council members, without discussion, unanimously voted Tuesday night to appeal the city Civil Service Board’s decision to allow former Deputy Chief Pete Williford to return to the police department as a lieutenant.

Williford was terminated May 24 by Florence Police Chief Rick Singleton. The action was taken after Singleton investigated a sexual harassment complaint filed against Williford by a female subordinate.

He appealed to the Civil Service Board, and it voted last week to reinstate the 49-year-old Williford to the police department.

He was, however, demoted to lieutenant.

Council members have the right to appeal a Civil Service Board’s decision to Lauderdale County Circuit Court. Williford also has the same right under city procedures.

A date in which the city is expected to file appeal was not available Tuesday night.

“We are very disappointed in the city’s decision,” said Hank Sherrod, local civil rights attorney who represented Williford. “The independent civil board reviewed all of the evidence, and the decision to terminate Deputy Chief Williford’s employment was not just.”

Having the city appealing a Civil Service Board’s decision is unprecedented in Florence, numerous city officials said.

“This is the first time for this council to do something like this,” said Council President Leland Howard. “We should support the administration, the chief and the mayor.”

Howard said he has been told other complaints against Williford have been filed, but he did not elaborate.

“We must uphold a zero tolerance policy for workplace harassment,” said Mayor Bobby Irons, who introduced the resolution with Singleton.

During a work session before the regular meeting, council members went into executive session to discuss the appeal. They are allowed to go into executive session when the good name and character of an individual or legal issue is discussed.

Sherrod said he did not expect the city to appeal the decision from its own Civil Service Board.

“We were willing to accept the Civil Service Board’s decision, which was a compromise,” Sherrod said. “He was demoted; it wasn’t like he returned to the same position. It was somewhere between termination and returning his deputy chief position.”

Deciding to appeal the decision also surprised some Civil Service Board members.

“Based on the testimony heard by the Civil Service Board (from Williford on June 13), we made what we considered a fair decision,” said Frances Nunnelly, who chairs the Civil Service Board.

“The city council has the right to appeal,” she added. “We will defend our decision at such time as there is an appeal.”

Singleton said Williford is expected to be back at work on Monday. He said Williford is on annual leave, which he had scheduled to take before his termination.

“It hasn’t been determined what exactly he will be doing when he comes back, but he is expected to be assisting me with some technical aspects of the department,’’ Singleton said.

In other business, the council: