Bethel Police Chief Chad Essert is under an official microscope after a former subordinate accused him of sexual harassment, prompting village leaders to place him on paid leave and open an administrative investigation. Documents reviewed by local reporters describe a series of alleged unwanted advances and inappropriate conduct, and the former employee reportedly declined to move forward with a criminal complaint earlier this month. Essert has been away from the department since early May while village and county officials sort through the case.
According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, sheriff's office documents say the woman reported that Essert put his hand on her thigh and asked what color underwear she was wearing. The documents, which are part of a complaint received by the Clermont County Sheriff's Office, also describe allegations that the chief told the employee to wear sweatpants, asked to see scars from her youth, and suggested they go back to his vehicle after the two met at an Italian restaurant.
Clermont County Sheriff Christopher Stratton told FOX19 NOW that investigators were looking for possible criminal behavior, but "to this point, we have not uncovered any crimes," and that the criminal inquiry is now closed. The sheriff's review also examined Essert's use of a department vehicle as part of the inquiry, and officials say records tied to the case will be released after legally required redactions and a review by the prosecutor's office. Essert has declined media requests for comment.
What the complaint says
Documents obtained by the Cincinnati Enquirer state that the former employee reported Essert required her to come into the police department for telehealth appointments. According to those records, she also alleged that at one point Essert told her she could not kill herself until he slept with her. The woman chose not to pursue criminal charges as of May 6, the records indicate, but the village has continued to move forward with its internal administrative investigation.
Chief's record draws scrutiny
A review of Essert's personnel history by the WCPO I-Team found a trail of disciplinary actions at previous law enforcement jobs, including a 2010 sexual harassment finding and separate citations for untruthfulness and disobeying orders. The I-Team reported that several of Essert's former employers either fired him or accepted his resignation under threat of termination. Those records were part of the background material reporters used to examine how he ended up hired as Bethel's chief in 2021, and they help explain why the village's current review is drawing such close attention in a town this small.
What's next
Public records show Mayor Jay Noble notified Essert on May 8 that he was suspended while the village conducts its review, according to a memo reported by FOX19 NOW. The village's attorney told reporters that Essert's paid leave will remain in place until the investigation is complete, and officials say any discipline or removal will comply with applicable law. In the meantime, Sgt. Don Fourth is serving as acting chief, and the department continues to respond to calls for Bethel's roughly 2,600 residents.
Legal implications
With the Clermont County Sheriff's Office saying it has not found criminal evidence at this stage, the focus now shifts to village personnel rules and administrative standards. Those processes can still carry real consequences, including discipline, possible certification issues, or policy changes inside the department. The small department, which serves a tight-knit community, will be watching to see what the village probe concludes and what becomes public once the sheriff's office releases records after redaction, in line with reporting by local outlets. If the village ultimately finds misconduct, penalties could range from retraining and formal discipline up to removal from the job, depending on what the internal review uncovers.
