Village officials in Bethel met Thursday for the first time since the resignation of former police chief Chad Esser, who is now the subject of dozens of criminal charges alleging sexual misconduct, including acts involving a minor.
Charges and timeline
Esser is charged with 56 counts of sexual battery and 14 counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, according to officials. Investigators say the alleged offenses occurred between 2005 and 2010, before Esser served as Bethel’s police chief.
| Allegation | Count |
|---|---|
| Sexual battery | 56 |
| Unlawful sexual conduct with a minor | 14 |
Esser had been on leave when the new charges were filed; he subsequently resigned. The village’s mayor addressed the resignation at Thursday’s meeting amid visible concern from residents.
Community response and internal strain
Residents and village officials told reporters the situation has been emotionally taxing for the small community and its police department. One attendee described the past weeks as difficult for municipal staff and for people checking on one another during the unfolding investigations.
“They spent a lot of hard work, a lot of emotions…you know, people checking on people, make sure they’re OKAY. There’s a lot of things that have been dealt with that’s been unseen, you know, internally,”
The mayor also circulated a memo to council members alleging that Esser had an extramarital encounter with a woman he had met during a traffic stop and that the encounter occurred while he was on duty, officials said.
Procedural status and next steps
The charges against Esser represent criminal accusations; he has not been convicted. Local officials have not released details about court dates or the status of any ongoing investigations beyond the filings and the administrative actions taken by the village.
- Allegations span 2005–2010—reported to predate Esser’s tenure as chief.
- Esser was on leave when the charges were filed; resignation followed.
- Village leaders are responding to public concern and internal stress within the police department.
Officials at the meeting emphasized the impact the allegations and subsequent personnel changes have had on the community and the local police force. The village has not announced further personnel actions or policy changes pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings.
Legal proceedings will determine the veracity of the charges. Authorities have said the alleged incidents occurred before Esser became the village’s chief; the community’s discussion has since encompassed both the criminal allegations and concerns over conduct while on duty.
