Police Chief Indicted on 70 Counts

Bethel’s police chief Chad Essert faces 70 felony charges for sexual misconduct, stemming from allegations during his time as a Young Marines instructor and teacher at Scarlet Oaks between 2005 and 2010. Initially cleared by the sheriff’s office, prosecutors later moved forward with charges. The mayor, who once backed Essert, now says his indictment and the village’s own investigation make his removal unavoidable — a decision that’s deeply unsettling for police staff. Formal removal proceedings will begin this week, with the mayor filing charges and the village council voting on his ouster as quickly as the law permits. 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/93b37640039fb5f0