Fairburn is now looking for

a new police chief.

City administrator Jim Williams

said he came to an "amicable agreement" Monday night with Chief

Mackie Carson to seek employment elsewhere.

Williams said there were numerous

problems in the department, such as morale problems and high turnover,

and the city and chief felt it was best to part company.

"When I first got here,

I heard there were problems in the department. The chief and I sat down

and discussed them," Williams said.

Williams also commissioned

a report from a statewide agency to examine the department. The report

was less than complimentary of the department, and Williams said something

had to be done to fix the situation.

"He was not thrown out

the door. Both parties felt this was the best solution," Williams

said.

The agreement calls for Carson,

who had a $61,000 annual salary, to be paid six months severance. He was

police chief in the city for three years.

In the interim, Williams said

Captain Miller will function as the chief until a new one can be found.

Williams is recruiting a new

police chief through the Georgia Police Association and hopes to find

a replacement in the next few weeks.