04.26.18

Senate Confirms Brendan Heffner To Be U.S. Marshal For Central District Of Illinois

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate voted unanimously to confirm the nomination of Brendan O. Heffner to serve as United States Marshal for the Central District of Illinois:

“Through many years of service to Illinois, Brendan Heffner has demonstrated strong qualifications to serve as United States Marshal. We expect him to serve with professionalism, responsibility, and a clear focus on the mission of the Marshals Service.  We look forward to working with him in his new role.” 

In May of last year, Durbin and Duckworth announced the formation of three screening committees to assist the Senators in evaluating candidates for vacant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Marshal, and federal judgeship positions in Illinois.  The task of the screening committees is to review and vet candidates for the vacancies and advise the Senators regarding the candidates’ qualifications and fitness for the position. 

Brendan O. Heffner.  Mr. Heffner is currently the Chief of the Bloomington, Illinois Police Department.  He began his law enforcement career as a patrolman with the Normal, Illinois Police Department in 1985.  In 1989, Mr. Heffner became a state trooper with the Illinois State Police, where he worked in drug interdiction, internal investigations, labor relations, and counterterrorism; he also supervised a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force.  He rose through the ranks of the State Police, serving in command posts as Lieutenant, Captain, Commander, and, finally retiring in 2010, as Lieutenant Colonel.  In retirement, he served as a Safety/Security Specialist for the State Farm Insurance Companies and as an instructor with the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System.  He was hired as Chief of the Bloomington Police Department in 2013.  Mr. Heffner holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mass communications from Illinois State University. 

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