BETHEL — Chad Essert resigned as Police Chief of the Village of Bethel on July 4, 2025, following his arrest and indictment on sexual misconduct charges in June 2025. The charges include 70 counts of sexual misconduct, with allegations involving a minor.

Bethel Mayor Jay Noble announced Essert's resignation on Friday, July 4, stating that the resignation would take effect on July 9, 2025. Noble said this date was when a hearing before the Village Council would have occurred to consider Essert's removal from office had he not resigned. The mayor indicated that with the resignation, no further investigation by the Village Solicitor's office was currently needed.

Noble explained that the Village Solicitor's office had been investigating allegations initiated by the Clermont County Sheriff's Office. Essert was placed on administrative leave on May 8, 2025. Before his indictment, the Clermont County Sheriff's Office stated on May 15, 2025, that "no criminal act was found."

The prosecutor's office indicated that the alleged incidents occurred between 2005 and 2010. The prosecutor also said the alleged victim was Essert's student while he served as an instructor with the Young Marines and a teacher at Scarlet Oaks. Essert is scheduled to appear in court again on July 7, 2025.

Essert was hired as Bethel's police chief in 2021. An investigation in 2023 revealed that Essert had been terminated or forced to resign from three of his previous six police positions before his tenure in Bethel. His personnel file contains allegations of dishonesty, disobeying orders, and sexual harassment from his time at other police departments.

Former Woodlawn Police Chief Jeff Witte commented that there were "serious flaws" in the background check process used to hire Essert. Witte stated, "Chad was in a position of authority as an instructor, as a teacher." He added, "He clearly abused the position." Witte concluded, "I think hiring this person as chief was inappropriate."

During a June 11, 2025, meeting with the Village Council, Mayor Noble defended Essert's hiring. Noble said, "The decision I made was based on the feedback I got from everyone to pick him." He added that Essert "sat in front of the council and interviewed with them." Noble also stated, "I made the recommendation, and the council approved it unanimously."

Acting Chief Donald Fourth will continue to lead the Bethel Police Department. The Village will now conduct a new search for a permanent police chief.