A married North Carolina police chief was fired for repeatedly asking the chief's wife to post nude photos on social media, and his subordinate was named to replace him as the town's top cop earlier this month.
John Clark, who has been Mars Hill's police chief since 2021, allegedly solicited topless photos and solicited a relationship with Officer Chad Wilson's wife via Snapchat last year.
“Your actions in pursuing a romantic relationship with an officer's wife are reprehensible,” Mayor Nathan Bennett said in a letter dated Oct. 16, 2023. Retrieved by WLOS.
“Actively soliciting that relationship is unacceptable and puts your entire department and the Town of Mars Hill at risk,” Bennett added in Clark's termination letter.
Instead of responding to Clark's requests, the woman shared screenshots of the disturbing interrogation with her husband, who then shared them with Bennett.
After reviewing the messages, Mr. Bennett hired an independent investigator to look into allegations that a note had been left showing that Mr. Clark had lied to both men when questioned about his actions.
“[Your] Because you blatantly lied to me and the investigators hired by the town, I have no choice but to fire you. ”
Law enforcement officers allegedly admitted that Bennett sent the messages to the woman, police said. News-Record and Sentinel.
Clark has been with the Mars Hill Police Department since 2016 and has three daughters with his high school sweetheart. Outlet added.
Mr. Clark was also charged with insubordination for leaving a meeting with Mr. Bennett and immediately contacting the police department and “victims of his conduct,” which was also overtly dismissed by town management. was deemed to be.
In addition to the lewd demands, Bennett said the former police chief demonstrated dangerous use of department-issued weapons and inappropriate use of town-issued vehicles.
“The handling of firearms in your office without storing them in a locked and secure area is completely contrary to all notions of gun safety, especially for law enforcement officers,” the letter said. There is.
“Once we have reached this decision at this point in our relationship, it is clear that we have no choice but to notify the Criminal Justice Standards Commission,” Bennett added.
Earlier this month, Chad Wilson was named to replace Clark, effective January 1st.
“I am passionate about leading this department and moving it forward,” Wilson said. He told the News-Record & Sentinel. But he declined to discuss Clark's firing, saying it was a personal matter.
“He's a hard worker,” he said. “He loves the job and he does a very good job. It made sense. So we're excited to move forward and get back on track,” Bennett said. Ta.
After being fired, Clark was hired by the Madison County Sheriff's Department as a school resource officer at Madison Early College High School.
He did not show up for his shift on Jan. 8 and “will not be returning to work,” the school's superintendent, Dr. Will Hoffman, confirmed to ABC 13.
Mars Hill is located in Madison County, 32 miles north of Asheville, in the Appalachian Mountains in the northwestern part of the state.
with post wire
