Oct. 06--EDWARDSVILLE -- Police Chief James Bedell has left office amid a federal investigation, a release from Mayor Gary Niebur announced Friday evening.
"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," the release from Niebur said.
U.S. Attorney Steve Wigginton declined to comment on the investigation, other than to say that federal agents executed search warrants at Bedell's home and at the police department this morning.
The agents also served subpoenas on the department for records, he said. He referred other questions to police or the mayor's office.
Bedell had been hired as chief in 2007. He had been a commander in the Naperville, Ill., police department, where he supervised 65 employees. Before joining that department, he was a military police officer in the Army.
Edwardsville police Maj. Don Lask, deputy chief of police, has been appointed acting director. Lask was first hired the department in 1975. He has been with the department continuously since August 1978.
Robert Patrick of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
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