SEADRIFT – The Seadrift City Council fired its chief of police Monday following a closed session during a special-closed meeting.
“Due to the findings of the investigation I move that Marie Carisalez be terminated,” said Councilwoman Tracey Johnson. The motion was seconded by Councilman Paul Gonzales and approved unanimously.
Carisalez was put on paid administrative
leave on June 26 pending an investigation. Recently hired Officer Cheyenne Beaver was named interim chief on June 26 while the investigations into Carisalez and Officer James Easley were conducted.
Carisalez was hired as the chief of police following the firing of Chief Leonard Bermea for sexual harassment June 14, 2023, following an investigation. Carisalez hired Easley in November 2023, who was cleared following his
investigation.
Mayor Jesse Hubbell said in an email that the officers were “put on paid administrative leave. I’m not at liberty to disclose the reasons, only that the actions were consistent with the city’s policies and practices.”
During the Tuesday, July 9, Seadrift City Council meeting, Gonzales, who is the Public Safety department head, said the investigation had
cleared Easley, who will return to work once his medical issues have been taken care of.
“The chief is on administrative leave pending the investigation, which we want done quickly but right,” Gonzales said at that time.
Attempts to contract city officials and Carisalez following the termination have not yet been
returned.
