Wheeler chosen to become Bloomington police chief

Posted on May 10, 2018
Clay Wheeler has been with the Bloomington Police Department since 1991. (Bloomington Police Department)

By Greg Halbleib

BLOOMINGTON – An assistant chief for the past seven years and a finalist in the last police chief search is the choice to lead the Bloomington Police Department.

Clay Wheeler is the choice of Interim City Manager Steve Rasmussen to replace Brendan Heffner, whose last day as Bloomington police chief is Friday. A statement from the city says Wheeler will be named acting chief through the weekend and the city council will act on the recommendation to elevate Wheeler to chief on Monday.

Wheeler is a Bloomington native who joined the department in 1991 after three years as an officer in Lafayette, Indiana. His duties in Bloomington have included patrol, hostage negotiator and detective. He was promoted to sergeant in 2007, lieutenant in 2011 and assistant chief later in 2011. He served as interim chief in 2013 when Randy McKinley left the department’s top post and was a finalist for the position when Heffner was hired.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected]. 

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