Ex-Naperville police commander resigns amid downstate investigation

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. — The police chief in Edwardsville has resigned, and city officials said federal agents have subpoenaed department documents as part of their investigation.

“We obviously find this troubling and of great concern,” Mayor Gary Niebur said.

Police Chief James Bedell resigned Friday. He had been with the department since 2007, when he transferred from Naperville.

Niebur declined to provide any comment or details on the investigation. A phone listing for Bedell in Edwardsville could not be located.

“We are fully cooperating with agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, but are unable to provide any comment in that the investigation is being conducted by the United States attorney,” Niebur said in a release.

Steve Wigginton, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, said agents executed search warrants Friday at Bedell’s home and the police department. Wigginton said agents also subpoenaed police department records.

Edwardsville police Maj. Don Lask, who has been with the department for more than 30 years, has been named acting chief as the city seeks a replacement.

An Edwardsville police officer resigned in April after he was accused of illegally making cellphone videos of women at a tanning salon.