Gleason names two interim police chiefs

Assistant chiefs Greg Scott (left) and Dan Donath will share the duties of interim police chief as Chief Clay Wheeler retire Friday. (Photo City of Bloomington)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington City Manager Tim Gleason has named two assistant police chiefs to serve as the interim chief.

Assistant chiefs Greg Scott and Dan Donath will share the duties of interim police chief until a replacement is found for retiring Chief Clay Wheeler.

A national search is currently being conducted by the city. Gleason will make a permanent hire possibly later this summer

According to a city release, Scott will serve as interim police chief for the first approximately four weeks of the vacancy. Scott has served over 20 years with the force, becoming assistant chief in 2016.  Prior to that, he was a lieutenant in the criminal investigations division.

Donath will serve as interim chief for the second approximately four weeks of the vacancy. Donath joined the BPD in 1994.

Chief Wheeler retires Friday after serving 31 years in law enforcement, 28 years with the City of Bloomington.

A retirement open house will be held Friday from noon to 2 p.m. in the Osborn Room, 305 S. East Street.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…