Village of Mahomet Police Chief Michael Metzler has announced his retirement after fourteen years with the Village of Mahomet Police Department effective September 30, 2025. Metzler has served the Mahomet Police Department since September 26, 2011, and has been a law enforcement officer for 46 years.
The village has already begun searching for a new police chief using recruiting services provided by Arndt Municipal Support Inc. and hopes to have someone on board by September 1 to ensure a smooth transition. Arndt Municipal Support Inc., located in Charleston, Illinois, is a public-sector management consulting firm specializing in meeting the needs of local government.
During his tenure, Chief Metzler has worked with the administration and board of trustees to prioritize expanding staffing needs, addressing the growing village population and increased activity. Metzler has embraced and prioritized technology as an asset for improving officers’ safety and efficiency. The department has added in-car cameras and body worn cameras integrated with a system of advanced license plate readers. The department was the only department in Champaign County to adopt an integrated system for electronic citations and accident reports. All officers are now issued laptops and cell phones with which they stay connected with dispatch and can upload evidence directly to the cloud.
Metzler also focused on mentoring and training police officers. Training has been expanded and enhanced, providing additional opportunities for officers. All officers are certified juvenile officers and breath alcohol test operators. The department has introduced programs to enhance community safety including active shooter training in the schools; providing Stop the Bleed training for students and school staff; implementing a Drug Take Back program for citizens to drop off unwanted medications; placing AEDs and NARCAN in every squad car; and deployment of speed trailers.
Metzler also advocated for and ultimately saw a METCAD tower built in Mahomet, improving radio reception throughout the village, most notably in the schools. Community engagement opportunities have increased significantly, promoting positive interaction between the department and community, and placing a school resource officer in the school district.
Village Administrator Patrick Brown, who has worked closely with Metzler since he was hired in 2011, believes Metzler was the right person the department needed to help navigate the growth and challenges the community was facing. “The department was at a crossroad and needed to transition from the mindset of a very small department to one that embraced new technology, enhanced training, and could meet the ever-changing needs of the community,” said Brown. “When Mike took over in 2001 the department had 7 sworn officers including the chief and grew to fifteen sworn officers today, all while working for four different Village Presidents and two different Village Administrators.”
“I grew up in and have been around law enforcement my entire life and honestly it is hard pressed to find someone else in this field who works harder and has the energy that Chief Metzler has,” said Brown. “He has been doing this for a long time and came into this position knowing that the police chief job in a small community department is 24/7.” Brown expressed appreciation for Metzler’s exemplary career, his commitment to Mahomet, ability to meet the challenges he faced, and the strong leadership he has provided through the years.
Village President Jason Tompkins expressed gratitude for Chief Metzler’s incredible service and wishes him the very best in retirement. “Chief Metzler has had a decorated career serving the law enforcement community for more than four decades and we have had the great fortune of having Mike’s leadership for the past 14 years as our Chief of Police,” said Tompkins. “During his tenure, Chief Metzler has been a true leader advancing the department both with top notch personnel and technology to address the ever-changing needs of our community. While his presence will be sorely missed; Chief Metzler is leaving the Mahomet Police Department positioned for an incredible future.”
Metzler previously served as Associate Director of Operations for the University of Illinois Police Training Institute for two years from 2010 to 2011. Prior, he served as a Police Training Specialist from 2007 to 2010 and Master Firearms Instructor from 1995 to 2007.
Metzler began his law enforcement career as a patrol officer in 1979 with the Urbana Police. He served in several positions and capacities within the Urbana Police Department, advancing in rank, and ultimately serving as the Criminal Investigations Division commander until his retirement in 2007.
Metzler, a native of Sterling, Illinois, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Illinois. He is a graduate of the 195th Session of the FBI National Academy in 1998. He has also completed instructor level training classes in several law enforcement related disciplines.
Metzler currently serves as the president of the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS) Board of Directors and holds a seat on the METCAD Policy Board. He is a member of several professional associations including FBI National Academy Associates, International Association of Chiefs of Police, Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Police Training Institute Alumni Association.
Chief Metzler appreciates the support and confidence he has received throughout his time leading the department. “It has been an honor of a lifetime to have served the Mahomet community, the village board, and the men and women of the Mahomet Police Department over these past 14 years,” said Metzler. “The level of support we have received from the Board of Trustees, Village President, Village Administration, and the people of Mahomet has been overwhelming and humbling. I am very proud of the staff we have assembled over the years. I will miss all of them.”
Tompkins believes filling the void left by Chief Metzler will be no small task. “Mike’s experience, leadership and demeanor have made him a one-of-a-kind leader in the law enforcement community for 46 years,” said Tompkins. “The foundation Chief Metzler has established over the past 14 years will be one of the hallmarks upon which the police department will build on in the future to serve and protect our community.”