Sandwich to hire former Normal police chief as interim police chief after not renewing current chief’s contract

The Sandwich City Council is set to hire former Normal police chief Richard Bleichner as the city’s interim police chief.

The city decided not to renew the contract of Sandwich Police Chief Jim Bianchi, whose contract expires Sunday. He has served as Sandwich police chief since September 2013.

At its meeting Monday, the City Council is set to ratify a contract with Bianchi, who retired as Normal police chief last year after leading the department for 11 years. He had started with the Normal Police Department in 1991.

The city found Bleichner through the Illinois Association of Police Chiefs, which it is also using to find a permanent chief. Sandwich City Administrator Geoff Penman has said he expects the city will have an interim chief for a few months.

Mayor Todd Latham has said the decision not to renew Bianchi’s contract was made because he wants to see a better outcome from the police department across all areas. Latham said there have been complaints during his time as mayor from aldermen and residents about the lack of property code enforcement and motorists speeding through town.

City Council members voted 7-1 on April 4 to approve an agreement with the Illinois Association of Police Chiefs to conduct a search on the city’s behalf for a new chief at cost of $11,000. Voting “no” was 4th Ward Alderman Rick Whitecotton, who said he voted against the agreement because he didn’t feel the council had considered enough options before making the decision.

Penman is hoping that a new police chief is in place by late summer or early fall.

“We want to make sure that we’ve got a couple months to do our due diligence and find the right person for the community,” Penman said. “Based on my conversations with the mayor, we want someone who can participate in the community, works well with our staff, can be a leader and work on just trying to improve the community where they can.”

In January, the Sandwich Police Department moved into a new police station.

“It’s a very nice space,” Penman said. “We’re very happy to have it.”

Shaw Media reporter David Petesch contributed to this report.