(Calhoun Falls-AP) Jan. 15, 2004 - The fired police chief in Calhoun Falls has been allowed to resign instead. Police Chief T. Billy Haynie was fired when he didn't meet a January 2nd deadline to resign.

Now, Calhoun Falls Mayor Johnnie Waller and the town's attorney have allowed Haynie to resign. Waller issued a statement saying he met with Haynie and both parties apologized for miscommunication.

Haynie was fired a week after the State Law Enforcement Division released details of an investigation into whether he sexually harassed a 68-year-old police officer's widow in 2002. She has filed a civil rights lawsuit.

SLED began investigating Haynie in October 2002 but didn't bring criminal charges against Haynie. Town Council then suspended the chief with pay, but Haynie returned to work after state Attorney General Henry McMaster refused to charge him. A spokesman for the attorney general's office said there was insufficient evidence of a crime to file charges.

SLED's evidence included sworn statements by Town Administrator Deborah Parks claiming she had been continually harassed by Haynie. SLED released its report to the Anderson Independent-Mail newspaper as part of a Freedom of Information Act request.

Haynie's attorney says Town Council members signed an agreement to fire Haynie in a closed meeting, which is illegal.

updated 7:57am by Chris Rees