A familiar face will be returning to serve at the helm of the Nome Police Department as former NPD Chief Mike Heintzelman was hired on a six-month contract to become interim Chief of Police. City Manager Lee Smith hinted at the hire during Monday’s Nome Common Council meeting during which he introduced Sgt. Brandon Barry as acting chief, but subsequently confirmed that Heintzelman accepted the interim position, beginning February 6. According to Smith, for the past six months, the city had been recruiting nationally to fill the police chief position with very little response. During the search process, Heintzelman signaled that he would be willing to come back to Nome and serve in an interim capacity and won’t rule out serving permanently.