On August 26th, 2013, just four days prior to the day that Gilberton Pennsylvania Police Chief Mark Kessler was scheduled to complete his suspension, Kessler posted a new video online, which has since led to accusations of threatening public officials. Gilberton Police Chief Kessler was originally suspended near the end of July for videos posted online which show him firing an assault weapon and calling for the killing of “libtards.” In one video, Kessler is seen firing his assault weapon into a paper target, which he clearly states is US Secretary of State John Kerry. In another, he states the target represents Democratic Representative and House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi. Kessler received a thirty day suspension for using Gilberton Borough Property in those earlier videos, without authority or permission. The assault weapon which Kessler brandished and fired in the videos belongs to the Gilberton Police Department.

In the new video Kessler shows off his two “new targets.” The first one he names “Eric.” Holding up a target with an evil clown face printed on the front, he states that Eric is a “libtard” who likes to “strong arm” and “threaten” people. Kessler then says that “Eric” is going to meet a friend of his today. He proceeds to bring out his assault weapon, saying that it has “been all over the world” and “taken many lives.”

“…the insane libtard clown Eric, cuz he’s a f’ing clown… Eric’s gonna meet my friend today.”

Later in the video Kessler says

“So I am going to take Eric out into the field over there and he’s going to be ranting and raving and carrying on… This is my target, Eric.”

Kessler holds up the evil clown faced target at this point.

There are only two conclusions to be drawn from this part of the video. 1. Kessler believes that a paper target has the ability to rant and rave and carry on – and thus should be terminated from his job as Chief of Police for mental health reasons or 2. Kessler is not referring to a paper target, when he says he is going to take “Eric” out into the field to meet his friend, the assault weapon.

The Vice-President of Gilberton Borough is a gentleman by the name of Eric Boxer. Kessler has stated on numerous occasions that he blames Boxer for his suspension.

Kessler’s second target in the video is someone Kessler refers to as “Danny.” According to Kessler, Danny is another “libtard.”

After holding up what he refers to as his “Humvee knife” which he says is “just in case I run out of bullets” he straps on his assault weapon. “I’m going to introduce him to my friend here…” he says.

Danny Malloy is the name of the Gilberton Council President.

Clearly this video is meant to threaten and intimidate elected officials. It’s release just days before the Town Council was scheduled to meet in regards to Kessler’s suspension is certainly not a coincidence.

The Gilberton Town Council, which met on August 30th, 2013, did not fire Kessler. Kessler himself did not show up for the Council meeting and neither did his militia group. At the meeting, Gilberton Council members unanimously voted to place him on indifinate suspension. However, the PA Patriot News reports that the Council may have concerns about the legalities of firing him outright, because he is under contract with the Borough.

With the release of Kessler’s new video, it seems that being fired from his position as Chief of Police should not even be a matter of question. Of more pressing concern is when he will be arrested for threatening or attempting to intimidate elected officials. It is painfully obvious that since Kessler has been in charge of the Gilberton Police Department for years, law enforcement personnel who worked under him are not willing or able to place him under arrest. This man is a clear and present danger to everyone in his community.

“Kessler is a ticking time bomb who must be removed from his position immediately,”

Michael Morrill, executive director of Keystone Progress told reporter Eric W Dolan in an interview on August 27th.

“His suspension is over this week. This video is clearly intended to intimidate Gilberton Council members before they decide on his future. Kessler’s continued intimidation of people he disagrees with has created a climate of fear in Gilberton and beyond. It is outrageous to allow him to continue to carry a badge and a gun while he repeatedly intimidates citizens.”

During the initial hearing on Kessler’s suspension in July, it was clearly established that a number of citizens in the community of Gilberton live in fear of Kessler and his militia. However, a billboard erected at the edge of the Borough indicates that even the militant “Oath Keepers” have now severed ties with Kessler.

The billboard reads

“Gilberton Council: Fire Kessler, Even the oath keepers dumped him”

In a related article, Salon.com received confirmation that the billboard is accurate, from Oath Keepers Board Member Elias Alias;

“Chief Kessler is not working with Oath Keepers, nor is Oath Keepers working with him,”

Alias stated in an email addressed to Salon.com staff.

Here’s the video:

[youtube=http://youtu.be/EZ6DLCGHo2I]