BPD interim chief to retire in September

Greg Scott was named interim police chief after Dan Donath retired in September of 2020. Scott’s last day on the job will be Sept. 3. (Facebook/City of Bloomington – Police)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – The interim chief of the Bloomington Police Department is retiring after 25 years on the job.

Greg Scott will retire in September as City Manager Tim Gleason accepted Scott’s resignation on Thursday.

“I appreciate Greg postponing his original retirement plans and stepping up to guide the department until a new chief is named,” said Gleason. “Going through the pandemic, I didn’t want to hold a virtual recruitment when picking a new leader for the police force and Greg was there to help.”

Scott joined BPD in 1996, moving up the ranks to become assistant chief in 2016. He was named interim police chief after Dan Donath retired in September of 2020. Scott’s last day on the job will be Sept. 3.

“Be guardians of the community but also be guardians of each other.” Scott said in his announcement to the department. “Watch out for and take care of each other.  I leave with a heart full of pride and respect for the men and women of the Bloomington Police Department.”

According to Bloomington Communications & External Affairs Manager Katherine Murphy, the city’s search for a new police chief is ongoing. They hope to have a new chief in place by September or October.

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…