CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Police Capt. M.L. White, who is under investigation for allegedly harassing a woman and illegally checking license plate numbers of her associates, is likely to retire from the Charleston Police Department and take a job as chief of police in another West Virginia town, his lawyer said Friday.

"I know Myron was offered a chief position and is contemplating it," said Mike Clifford, White's attorney.

Charleston police Chief Brent Webster said he received a letter from White in late October, saying that he wanted to retire effective Sunday. White has been on administrative leave since May.

Clifford said he understood White's letter to say that he was contemplating retirement to take the other job, but that he hasn't taken it yet. Clifford also said he wasn't sure which town White had been offered the chief's job in.

White's retirement will conclude the internal investigation being conducted by Charleston police, Webster said.

"We don't have jurisdiction with an employee that separates," he said.

Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Plants' office continues to investigate. He said Friday that there is no update on their investigation.

Plants would not talk specifically about White's case, but said, "We take allegations against police officers very seriously, and if there is evidence against a police officer, we are going to prosecute it."

Webster said again Friday that he had been waiting for the outcome of Plants' investigation before making his own decision on White's status with the department.

"I know Myron was offered a chief position and is contemplating it," said Mike Clifford, White's attorney.

Charleston police Chief Brent Webster said he received a letter from White in late October, saying that he wanted to retire effective Sunday. White has been on administrative leave since May.

Clifford said he understood White's letter to say that he was contemplating retirement to take the other job, but that he hasn't taken it yet. Clifford also said he wasn't sure which town White had been offered the chief's job in.

White's retirement will conclude the internal investigation being conducted by Charleston police, Webster said.

"We don't have jurisdiction with an employee that separates," he said.

Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Plants' office continues to investigate. He said Friday that there is no update on their investigation.

Plants would not talk specifically about White's case, but said, "We take allegations against police officers very seriously, and if there is evidence against a police officer, we are going to prosecute it."

Webster said again Friday that he had been waiting for the outcome of Plants' investigation before making his own decision on White's status with the department.

White started with the police department in August 1979. He is one of four captains in the department, the highest civil service rank.

White will receive his full retirement. He became fully vested when he reached 30 years with the department last year, Webster said.

His retirement leaves a captain's position open in the department's ranks. Webster, who by rank is a lieutenant, is next in line to be promoted to captain.

Webster said White worked in the Professional Standards Division in an investigative role. He was not in charge of the division.

In White's absence, Webster has moved Sgt. Autumn Davis from the Criminal Investigation Division to Professional Standards.

White would not be the first Charleston Police Department captain to be accused of wrongdoing, go on administrative leave and then retire without being punished by the department.

On June 15, 2006, Capt. Tim Tucker's service weapon was in his desk drawer when the officer he had accompanied on patrol that night was shot in the face.

Sgt. Eric Johnson was shot twice in a Kanawha City motel parking lot by Brett Lawrence Hanick. Johnson returned fire and killed Hanick. When the gunfire started, Tucker took cover behind a vehicle and fled behind the nearby corner of a building, police said at the time.

Reach Gary Harki at gha...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5163.