FRACKVILLE - Former Gilberton police Chief Mark Kessler held a media conference on Monday afternoon to speak on his future, including a reality show, his new organization and his plans to remain on the North Schuylkill school board.
The media conference was held in the Frackville office of Kessler's attorney, Joseph P. Nahas, with the small room crowded with television cameras and reporters.
Nahas opened the 30-minute meeting with a few comments, after which he and Kessler fielded questions from the media.
"I'd like to address a few issues right now. We've received many calls from many media outlets regarding the chief," Nahas said. "There were some inaccuracies. First of all, we'll want to take care of those things and then we'll turn it over to the chief to discuss where he's going from here in regards what he plans for his future."
Nahas said the settlement agreement was signed by Kessler and Gilberton officials last Thursday in Nahas' office, and added that Kessler is separated from the borough as an employee and is "retired."
"Some media outlets were talking about the chief being terminated, which is simply not the case. The chief is retired," Nahas said.
Nahas said he and Kessler could not speak about the settlement due to confidentiality stipulations in the agreement. He said Kessler believed the settlement was the best for both parties.
"The chief felt at the time that it was not only in his best interest to settle the matter with Gilberton borough, but he also felt that after being a part of Gilberton, being a protector of its population for over 13 years, he felt that it was in Gilberton's best interest to settle the matter. It was very amicable and cordial."
Nahas said Kessler has signed a contract with Relativity TV in Hollywood to develop a reality television program. The working title is "The Chief Kessler Project." The contract was signed last week before the settlement agreement was signed.
Kessler was asked if he had anything to say to the people of Gilberton.
"I wish them luck in the future. The best of everything," Kessler said. "I served them for almost 14 years and there are a lot of good people down there. I hope that they move forward."
With regard to the reality TV project, Kessler explained different production companies had contacted him about a show last year.
"Relativity TV had contacted me back in July when my videos first came out to do something, and attorney Nahas and myself have been negotiating since July," Kessler said. "It's going to involve myself, members of my organization (III% B.O.G.) and attorney Nahas will also be a part of it."
"Mark's whole fight in all of this from the beginning was for the First Amendment and the Second Amendment," Nahas said. "I think this thing took on a whole new life whereby you have a lot of people inside and outside this country that voiced an interest in. Those people come from all walks of life. Part of the show is certainly based on these individuals, what they are fighting for in regards to the government, and maybe what Mark and his group perceives as the limitations that the government is trying to put on your average American citizen."
Kessler said he has thought about what he could have done differently over the past year.
"That question goes through my mind daily. I went through a lot in the public eye and at home," he said. "I really don't know if I would have did things different. It is what it is and just moving forward now."
He added that one thing he learned was "to pick my friends and pick them wisely."
Going back to the reality show, Kessler said there will be a "select few" from III% B.O.G. in the show.
"We might travel around. I have a big chapter in Georgia, an up and coming chapter in Texas, and Kentucky and Louisiana. We'll incorporate some of those people from those groups," Kessler said.
"You'll be able to get different looks at different aspects of different individuals, not just from the coal region, but from throughout the United States," Nahas said.
Kessler said some of the show will be filmed in the coal region. No dates have been set for filming or the airing of the show. It is in development, he said. Kessler stated that he has not received any money from the company and there is a chance that the show will not go beyond the development process.
Kessler said III% B.O.G. (meaning 'Three Percent, Boots On the Ground), was created in January and has a "few thousand" members. His first organization, Constitution Security Force, will continue.
"One thing I want to make clear that we are not affiliated with any insurrectionist movement," he said. "Let's make that quite clear right now. The 'three percent' stands for the three percent of people who stood up and fought for their independence against the British crown back in the Revolutionary War. It has nothing to do with overthrowing the government. That is not what I and my group is about. I'm about freedom, independence and the belief of what our Founding Fathers started and the principles that our country are based on."
Kessler replied to a question on how his videos are perceived and how they affected him negatively in some way.
"Unfortunately, they did and I had to deal with some situations already with certain people who had contacted me with ill intentions," Kessler said. "I definitely took care of that right away. I'm not about that in any way, shape or form. If anybody contacts me and says that we want you to commit a heinous crime, just because I took the badge off doesn't mean that I stopped upholding that oath I took to protect life."
Kessler continues to serve as a school board member. When asked about comments from people that he should resign from the North Schuylkill school board because of his actions in the videos showing him using vulgar language and firing automatic weapons, Kessler said, "That's their opinion. They're entitled to their opinion."
Kessler has no plans to resign from the school board.
"I've been serving now for two years and I've been doing a good job," Kessler said.