City of Bethel announces Chief of Police resignation

The City of Bethel is announcing the official resignation of Police Chief Richard Simmons effective May 1, 2022. Lieutenant Jesse Poole will serve as Acting Police Chief until the position is filled.

Lieutenant Jesse Poole began his law enforcement career in 2004 with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office in Florida as a corrections deputy and shortly after became dual certified as a law enforcement officer in 2005. He has worked in Central and South Florida and across Alaska, holding the ranks from officer to acting chief of police, before accepting the Lieutenant position in Bethel in October of 2021.

Lieutenant Poole holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Polk State College in Lakeland, Florida. He is a graduate of numerous advanced specialized trainings such as S.W.A.T. hostage negotiations and most recently the FBI-LEEDA 706th Supervisor Leadership Institute Course. Lieutenant Poole is an avid traveler and has visited 30 countries. He also lived in Australia and completed a semester abroad in Outdoor Education.

He is the enthusiastic son of James and Linda Poole, Brother to Garret Poole and Uncle to Briella and Easton Poole.