Belleville Council to consider leadership shuffle, including a new police chief
There’s a change brewing for the leadership of the Belleville Police Department as Mayor Patty Gregory has proposed a plan to name Bill Clay, the longtime police chief, as the city’s human resources director, and promote Assistant Police Chief Matt Eiskant to be chief.
Capt. Mark Heffernan would become assistant police chief if Gregory’s plan is approved.
The moves will be considered by the City Council during a meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall.
Clay was the city’s first Black police officer when he joined the department in 1995, then became its first Black police chief in 2007.
With his 15 years as chief and prior experience as an officer, Gregory said she believes Clay has more than enough experience to serve as the human resources director.
If the move is approved by the council, it would mean a salary decrease for Clay. According to city records for the fiscal year that began on April 1, Clay earns $135,846 as police chief.
Gregory said Clay would earn $77,000 as the director of human resources and community development if the appointment is ratified by the City Council.
“The one thing that I really, really like, he’s had very unique H.R. demands of the police department,” Gregory said. “And for years on the day-to-day basis, Chief Clay has managed most of the department’s H.R. needs.
“He’s very familiar with discipline, mediation and contract negotiations.”
Gregory said Clay was instrumental in getting the police union’s new contract approved at the beginning of the year. The changes include increasing starting wages 28% from $55,549 for a night shift to $71,270.
“We hired eight new officers, which is pretty incredible when you think of the fact that other police departments across the nation are losing police officers.”
Clay is expected to step down as police chief on June 18, Gregory said.
The previous full-time director of human resources was Seth Miller.
New police chief proposal
Eiskant joined the department in 2001 and was named assistant chief in 2018.
“Matt has had a ton of experience,” Gregory said. “He’s been very, very active within the community.”
Gregory said Eiskant’s experience includes work with patrol officers, detectives and special operations.
“He has worked in many, many areas of the police department,” she said.
Gregory praised Eiskant for his “loyalty and commitment to the city of Belleville and to the Belleville Police Department
“He’s been very active in getting out in the community with different organizations,” the mayor said.
Eiskant currently earns $129,672 as assistant chief while Heffernan earns $109,793 as a captain.
Heffernan joined the department in 2004.
If you want to learn more about local government salaries, you can use the BND’S searchable Public Pay Database:
This story was originally published June 6, 2022 at 6:57 AM.
