(Newport, OR) -- The Mayor of Newport has resigned after being accused of posting hateful, racist and homophobic messages in a private Facebook group for law enforcement. Dan Sawyer has been posting to the group since 2016, after serving as a Newport police officer for 30 years. He was elected mayor in 2018. Over the weekend, the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners and community members demanded that he step down. Monday morning, Sawyer released a public apology and announced his resignation, effective immediately.