Former Chief Charged with Abuse of Power

Former Bethel police chief Chad Essert faces 70 serious charges, including sexual battery and unlawful conduct with a minor, allegedly dating back to his time as a Young Marines instructor and teacher between 2005 and 2010. Critics question how he was hired in 2021, citing major flaws in the background check process and his prior history of misconduct and job departures under questionable circumstances. Though the sheriff’s office initially closed its investigation, the indictment paints a starkly different picture. Bethel’s mayor defended the hiring, citing unanimous council approval, but experts argue greater transparency and community involvement could prevent future scandals. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/3486f8713fc83d57