Pete Williford

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  www.timesdaily.com/article/20070615/NEWS/706150334 - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 6/15/2007    Last Visited: 6/17/2007  

  Williford to return to force as lieutenant
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  FLORENCE -- The city civil service board has voted to return Pete Williford to employment with the police department but as a lieutenant, not his formerly held position of deputy chief.
  
  Florence Police Chief Rick Singleton terminated Williford on May 24 after a female subordinate accused Williford of sexual harassment.
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  The 49-year-old Williford appealed the decision to the civil service board and that appeal hearing took place Wednesday.
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  "But we appreciate the board's decision, which will allow Mr. Williford to support his family and which avoids the financial and personal devastation that would have resulted had the (termination) been upheld," Sherrod said in a prepared statement.
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  "We are very thankful that officers like Mr. Williford have an independent body, not subject to any political or other pressure, that has the power to review the fairness of employment termination decisions and correct any injustice."
  
  He said Williford is looking forward to returning to work and "holds no hard feelings about what happened."
  
  "Mr. Williford is thankful for all the prayers and support he has received," Sherrod continued in the statement.
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  "Some have encouraged him to appeal the decision, but Mr. Williford, after a very difficult month in which his and his family's future was in doubt, is happy to put this matter to rest."
  
  Singleton said Williford is expected to be back at work June 25.

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  www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070613/ - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 6/13/2007    Last Visited: 6/14/2007  

  Deputy chief goes in front of board today FLORENCE -- Florence police Deputy Chief Pete Williford will appear before the civil service board today to appeal his termination.Flore" />
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  FLORENCE -- Florence police Deputy Chief Pete Williford will appear before the civil service board today to appeal his termination.
  
  Florence Police Chief Rick Singleton placed Williford on administrative leave May 15 after Williford was accused of sexual harassment by a female subordinate.
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  After investigating the complaint, Singleton terminated Williford on May 24.
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  Williford also had the right to appeal the termination to the civil service board, which he did.
  
  Florence attorney, Hank Sherrod, who is representing Williford, said the hearing will be today at 5:30 p.m.
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  "We're looking forward to defending (Williford) and presenting our side," Sherrod said.

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  www.timesdaily.com/article/20070620/NEWS/70620001/1011 - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 6/20/2007    Last Visited: 6/21/2007  

  Williford to return to force as lieutenant (June, 15, 07)
  
  Florence deputy chief fired (May, 25, 07)
  
  Deputy chief placed on leave (May, 17, 07)
  
  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.
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  The action was taken after Singleton investigated a sexual harassment complaint filed against Williford by a female subordinate.
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  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.
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  "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.
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  Singleton said Williford is expected to be back at work on Monday.

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  www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070525/ - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 5/25/2007    Last Visited: 5/26/2007  

  FLORENCE - Florence police Deputy Chief Pete Williford was fired Thursday, more than a week after a female subordinate accused him of sexual harassment, officials said.
  
  Florence Police Chief Rick Singleton placed Williford on administrative leave May 15 after the complaint was filed against Williford.
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  The female employee accused Williford of sexual harassment after he made a suggestive comment about her haircut.
  
  Singleton announced Thursday that he had investigated the complaint and had fired Williford.
  
  Williford, 49, has been with the police department for nearly 28 years.He has five days to request a hearing with the city's civil service board, which could confirm the chief's action, reduce the penalty or reinstate him as deputy chief.
  
  The termination is not final until the civil service board acts or until five days pass without a request for a hearing.
  
  Williford issued a statement Thursday saying he is innocent of any sexual harassment charge and intends to appeal.
  
  Williford said he believes the action is being taken to make up for the way Singleton handled a 2005 matter in which a police captain resigned the force after a sexual harassment complaint was filed against him.
  
  "All of the due-process procedures that have been in place for decades were done away in my case and a new process was implemented just for me," Williford stated.
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  Williford was notified of the chief's decision during a meeting Thursday afternoon at the police department.In his haste to leave, Williford backed his truck into a co-worker's parked vehicle.He left the area without stopping or notifying police personnel.
  
  He later said the only contact was to the vehicle's fender and there was no damage.
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  The chief said that during the investigation three other female employees said Williford had made offensive comments to them.He said, however, his decision to terminate Williford was based on the original complaint.
  
  Williford said last week that the complaints were based on the fact that he holds employees under his supervision accountable for their actions.
  
  "When you are in a position of management and you do your job properly by holding subordinates accountable to their responsibilities, you can be a threat to those that do not perform," Williford said last week.

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  www.florencepd.org/Florence_Police/Administration/index - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 3/12/2007    Last Visited: 3/12/2007  

  Message from Deputy Chief Pete Williford

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  www.waaytv.com/cgi-bin/shownews.cgi?id=3680 - [Cached Version]
  Last Visited: 3/15/2007  

  Deputy police chief Pete Williford believes the public needs to see video like this.He says it's a good example of showing how officers have to make split second decisions whether to open fire.
  
  James Rochester faces life in prison.His sentencing is set for May 10th. posted Wed Mar 14 16:56:37 2007

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  www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070517/ - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 5/17/2007    Last Visited: 5/20/2007  

  Florence Police Chief Rick Singleton confirmed Wednesday that Deputy Chief Pete Williford has been placed on temporary leave.
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  "We had an employee who filed a complaint (against Williford), and it is being investigated," Singleton said.
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  Williford said he was off work a couple of days and planned to return to his duties Monday.
  
  He released a prepared statement so that rumors and unsubstantiated accusations "don't prevail over the truth," he said.
  
  He said the complaint against him is from Capt. Melissa Beasley who has accused him of sexual harassment after a comment he made about her hair, he said in the statement.
  
  Also in the statement released Wednesday, he cites two other subordinates, Catrina Simbeck and Salina Daniels, who have apparently come forward with similar charges concerning comments he's accused of making about hair and weight to one and wearing apparel to the other.
  
  In his statement, Williford claims his comments were either taken out of context or he has denied the allegations altogether.
  
  "When you are in a position of management and you do your job properly by holding subordinates accountable to their responsibilities, you can be a threat to those that do not perform," Williford said in the statement."So the best defense is a good offense."
  
  Willford said he has not been informed of any rules, policies or procedures he has violated and he does not expect any disciplinary action since he has not violated any rules, policies or procedures, "nor have I harmed anyone."
  
  "I am very saddened that we (the department) are going to have to do through this during a time we are all hurting and grieving from the loss of David Young," he said in his statement.

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  www.kleinpeter-schwartzberg.com/news_you_can_use.asp - [Cached Version]
  Last Visited: 5/27/2007  

  Florence police Deputy Chief Pete Williford was fired Thursday, more than a week after a female subordinate accused him of sexual harassment, officials said. via Times Daily

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  www.waaytv.com/cgi-bin/videopage.cgi?id=3966 - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 5/11/2007    Last Visited: 5/11/2007  

  Florence Deputy Police Chief Pete Williford believes the public needs to see video like this.He says it's a good example of showing how officers have to make split second decisions whether to open fire.

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  www.waaytv.com/cgi-bin/videopage.cgi?id=3680 - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 3/15/2007    Last Visited: 3/15/2007  

  Deputy police chief Pete Williford believes the public needs to see video like this.He says it's a good example of showing how officers have to make split second decisions whether to open fire.
  
  James Rochester faces life in prison.His sentencing is set for May 10th.

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