Former Albany police chief gets court supervision for leaving the scene

MORRISON – Albany’s former police chief pleaded guilty Thursday morning in Whiteside County Court to leaving the scene of an accident, a misdemeanor.

Per a plea agreement, Wyatt Heyvaert, 42, of Albany, was given 9 months’ court supervision, and levied $475 in fines and fees.

Court supervision is not a conviction. If Heyvaert successfully completes the terms of his supervision, the case will be closed, and no conviction will appear on his record.

Heyvaert was driving a 2022 Pontiac Grand Prix just after 3 a.m. on Aug. 27, his birthday, when he struck a parked car on state Route 84 at Sixth Avenue in Albany.

He was working for Fulton police but off duty at the time.

Deputies did not conduct field sobriety tests on Heyvaert because he was not at the crash site, Sheriff John Booker said. He turned himself in to the sheriff’s department 3 days later, on Aug. 30, where he was cited for leaving the scene.

State’s Attorney Terry Costello filed the the charge against Heyvaert on Oct. 1.

Heyvaert had resigned from the Albany department on June 7, after nearly 8 years there, citing difficult conditions under the new village administration. He then worked two months for the Fulton Police Department, from July 12 to Sept. 6 – 10 days after the crash – before tendering his resignation there.

Fulton Chief of Police Nick Neblung declined to provide a reason for the resignation, citing an agreement the city made with Heyvaert.

Heyvaert said after the crash that he no longer is in law enforcement and is not sure whether he’ll return to the profession.