READING, Ohio — The Reading police chief has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation, the City of Reading announced Thursday morning on social media.
According to the notice of leave sent by Mayor Robert "Bo" Bemmes to Police Chief Bryan Edens, his leave is due to an outside investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
Bemmes told WCPO Thursday that Edens is on paid leave, but he didn't elaborate on what is being investigated.
Edens joined the Reading Police Department in 2000 after working as an officer in Elmwood Place for eight years. He became Reading's police chief in 2020.
The city's social media post did not offer any details, and the post says the city will have no further comment while the investigation is active and ongoing.
"This action is being taken in accordance with the policies and procedures of the City of Reading and does not constitute a disciplinary finding," Bemmes wrote Wednesday in a letter to Edens informing him of the move. "The administrative leave is intended to allow a thorough and impartial review of matters that have recently come to the City's attention."
WATCH: Reading police chief placed on leave amid investigation from Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation
The letter does not specify the nature of those matters. We reached out to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation to learn more about their investigation, but did not hear back.
In May 2025, the City of Reading hired Crosden Consulting to do a third-party assessment on the police department.
In the 38-page report released in August, the consulting group said they interviewed nearly every patrol officer, staff member and member of city leadership involved in the department.
The report found there was a breakdown in leadership at the command level, which contributed to a decline in morale.
According to the report, between 2020 and 2025, 16 officers left the department. The report said that 11 of the officers said they left due to dissatisfaction with leadership.
You can read the report below:
The report also said that some officers have felt frustrated and have lingering resentment due to disappointment with past promotional processes.
"Based on our review, we found that there is unfair application of the rules, there are no clear expectations, the chain of command is broken, and disorder is the 'rule of the day'," the report said.
While there was no recommendation of leadership change, the consulting group outlined recommendations to rectify some of the internal issues.
Bemmes told WCPO on Thursday that the report had nothing to do with Edens being placed on leave.
Bemmes' letter ordered Edens not to engage in work-related matters or access Reading computer systems while he is on leave, but to "remain available during normal business hours and reachable by phone or email." It also ordered Edens to turn over all city-owned property, with the exception of his badge and firearm.
The mayor said that he reserves the right to demand Edens' badge and firearm be turned in at Bemmes' discretion.
Lieutenant Daniel Flottemesch has been named the city's interim police chief "until further notice," according to the post.
READ: The mayor's letter to Edens sent on Wednesday:
