Civil service board upholds termination

FLORENCE - The civil service board has upheld the termination of former deputy police chief Pete Williford.

City officials said the board voted 5-0 after an all-day hearing Friday to terminate Williford, who has been with the department for nearly 28 years.

City attorney Billy Musgrove said Williford will be notified in writing of the board's decision.

Police Chief Rick Singleton terminated Williford, for the second time, in July as a result of numerous harassment complaints filed against Williford.

The complaints were filed by department personnel, both women and men, Singleton said.

City officials said the complaints were in violation of the city and department's rules and regulations.

Singleton first fired Williford, 49, on May 24 after Singleton investigated a sexual harassment complaint that was filed by a female subordinate.

Members of the civil service board voted to reinstate Williford, but demoted him from deputy chief to lieutenant.

Just days before Williford was to return to work, city council members voted June 19 to appeal the reinstatement to circuit court. As a result, Williford was placed back on administrative leave, pending the circuit court's decision.

Musgrove said that case was dismissed because of the new charges and termination.

"There was no sense going forward with that case. The new dismissal made the other appeal a moot issue," Musgrove said.

Williford has 10 working days to appeal the board's latest decision.

In an e-mailed statement, Williford said he is assessing his "legal options and abilities."

"Both times Chief Singleton recommended I be terminated I could have resigned," Williford said. "I did not because I knew I was innocent of any allegation that merited termination. The civil service board agreed.

Then the city decided to use all its power against me and even tried to abolish the civil service board. This ordeal has taken a severe mental, physical and financial toll on myself and my wife. My challenge now is to try to find employment, despite this ordeal on my record, in order to provide for my family."

Singleton said he expects the process of filling the vacant deputy chief position to begin soon and hopes to have the job filled by early to mid-October.

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@timesdaily.com.