SHEFFIELD — Police Chief Greg Ray’s appeal hearing concerning his termination has been postponed until early 2013, official said.

Ray’s attorney Tony Hughes, of Florence, said the Sheffield Civil Service Board granted a continuation of the appeal hearing until January.

The hearing was set for Thursday.

Hughes said Ray has been sick, prompting him to seek a continuation.

“He wasn’t able to assist in his own defense and this will give us more time,” Hughes said.

A new date has not been scheduled for the hearing.

“I’m suppose to get with the civil service board and (city prosecutor, B.T.) Gardner and we’ll come up with a date that is good for everyone,” Hughes said.

Hughes said Ray has requested the hearing be open to the public.

Ray, 54, was terminated Oct. 26 after being given a choice of resigning or face termination, according to Sheffield Mayor Ian Sanford.

Sanford said Ray is on leave with pay, pending the appeal to the Civil Service Board.

Ray is accused of failing to address issues the council brought up to him about a year ago.

“We talked with him about certain things and issues that weren’t being done and things that we would like to see done. They were not done,” Sanford said at the time of the termination.

Hughes filed an appeal with the Sheffield Civil Service Board on Oct. 29.

Ray has worked in the department since 1992 and served as chief since the retirement of Doug Aycock in 2007.

Sanford appointed Sheffield Fire Chief Dewey King as interim police chief.

Tom Smith can be reached at 256-740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.