A former suburban police chief has apologized after pictures of him surfaced on an internet sex website.

John Heidelmeier was ousted as police chief last year under a cloud of secrecy that never was fully explained.

He is now running for Village President of Villa Park against one of his harshest critics on the village board who pushed him to retire.

Sexually explicit photos of Heidelmeier were posted on a website that describes itself as the most diverse phone sex experience because anything goes.

The pictures are dated February 7.

One shows Heidelmeier wearing a blue shirt, looking into a camera.

But the other shows him holding his exposed genitalia.

Heidelmeier issued a statement last night saying, “I acknowledge that these images on this website are of me. I did nothing unlawful or anything that diminishes my ability to serve the people of Villa Park.  I regret that this private situation became public and I apologize to my supporters, but more importantly to my wife and family… How this became public is meaningless, but I want to assure my opponent and supporters that I will stay steadfast in the race  and let the voters take a careful look at the real issues facing Villa Park on April 9th.”

The Chicago Tribune reports that the photos were discovered by Village Trustee John Davis.

Davis says on Tuesday, someone put a printout of the pictures in his mailbox.

He says he then confronted Heidelmeier about them.

Heidelmeier’s opponent in the Village President race, Trustee Deborah Bullwinkel, says her campaign had nothing to do with finding the pictures or spreading them.

“I really feel bad for John (Heidelmeier) and his familly.  I really do,” said Bullwinkel.