PENDLETON — Marc Farrer will remain a member of Pendleton Police Department — but not as its chief.

Pendleton Town Council unanimously approved a settlement agreement Friday that allows Farrer — who had been on paid administrative leave because of disciplinary matters since Jan. 24 — to continue to serve as a patrolman.

The town also has started the process of locating a new leader for the department.

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“We’re pleased this is behind us,” Council President Jessica Smith said shortly after the 5 p.m. special town council meeting Friday, during which the agreement was announced.

Farrer was in the packed meeting room when the agreement was approved; most people in the public seating area stood and applauded after the council voted 5-0 for the settlement.

On Jan. 24, the council voted 3-2 to fire Farrer because of social media posts it said “reflect and promote bias” and “compromise (his) ability to carry out your duties to the public as a law enforcement officer and as the Pendleton town marshal in a fair, impartial and non-discriminatory way.”

On Feb. 14, it voted 3-2 again for an expanded notice of charges.

Termination was subject to an appeals process, and an appeals hearing was set for 2 p.m. Friday.

That hearing was canceled as the council, Farrer and their attorneys instead worked for two and a half hours finalizing details of a settlement agreement.

The agreement allows Farrer, who had been chief for 13 years, to continue working as a patrolman, with pay set at that rank with all of his years of service intact. It will mean a pay cut from about $62,000 to about $46,000.

He will be on probation for a year and “shall successfully complete sensitivity and diversity training.”

He also received four weeks unpaid leave, which began Friday; he is able to use accrued vacation or other leave time to receive a paycheck during that time.

Farrer read an apology that was also part of the agreement:

“I want to publicly apologize to the citizens of Pendleton, the town council, and my fellow officers for my unprofessional Facebook posts. Although I never intended for these posts to be offensive, I take full responsibility for my actions. This will not happen again. I look forward to continuing to serve this great community as I return to the position of patrol officer.”

Farrer said Friday the prospect of a settlement agreement began to materialize between attorneys on the prior Tuesday. He said he was not only thankful to be able to keep his job but for the many people in the community who supported him since January.

Since Jan. 24, supporters have conducted a rally-style cookout, marched through downtown Pendleton multiple times, made yard signs available that were visible throughout town and attended related council meetings.

Smith, too, said she was happy with the settlement.

“Our community’s been divided, ” she said. “We’re pleased this is behind us.”

Jessica Bastin — who with Smith and Chad Wolfe were the three council members who had voted to terminate Farrer — said she was “glad he (Farrer) read his apology.”

She said she believes Farrer realizes his mistakes and that “he didn’t make the best choices.”

With the settlement agreement, the town withdraws and dismisses all disciplinary charges that were pending.

The initial charges included violation of rules, conduct unbecoming an officer, neglect of duty and conduct injurious to the public peace or welfare. On Feb. 14, “failing to cooperate or be truthful” was added.

Farrer’s attorney, Edward Merchant, said in an email to The Times-Post on Friday night, that the settlement agreement “was a concession by both parties.

“Although not specifically stated, the agreement essentially represents Chief Farrer’s acknowledgement of poor judgment with regard to the Facebook posts, and the council’s acknowledgement of poor judgment with regard to its attempt to terminate Marc Farrer. I was very proud of Marc for issuing a public apology.

“Marc and I are both extremely grateful for the overwhelming community support in his favor. I think it speaks volumes to both his character and his service to the community.”

Some supporters of Farrer expressed afterward that he paid too steep a price for what he did but were somewhat satisfied that he at least gets to remain employed.

Farrer said he was happy to be able to continue working and to have health insurance for his family; while work on the agreement began on March 5, it was not settled until late Friday afternoon.

“Even today, it could have ended with something more serious,” he said on Friday.

During negotiations, he said he sat with Merchant in one room while the town council and its attorney were in another room; revised versions of the agreement were ferried back and forth until both sides settled on mutually acceptable terms.

On Tuesday, March 12, Smith said via email that she and town attorney Alex Intermill were working on a job posting for town marshal, which is the official title of the chief position.

“It will be published soon,” Smith said, noting that she has received “a few” resumés already.

“I do not have a deadline for hiring a new town marshal. I want to make sure we do not rush the process so that the right candidate is selected,” she said.

“In the meantime, I expect Cpt. (Randy) Sidwell will officially be named interim town marshal at Thursday’s meeting (March 14).”

Sidwell, who has served as acting chief since Jan. 24, said on Friday he has expressed interest in the permanent position.