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INDIANAPOLIS -- Today, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Randal Taylor announced several command staff changes. An appointment ceremony will be held in the Chief’s conference room next week. These changes take effect Wednesday May 31, 2023.

Deputy Chief Josh Barker to Retire
After 21 years of service, Deputy Chief Josh Barker will retire from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department next week.

Barker has held many assignments throughout his career including North District Commander, Neighborhood Impact Lieutenant, Community Relations, Criminal Gang Investigator, Executive Officer and Field Training Officer.  Barker also spent 10 years on the IMPD Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team.   

Barker graduated from Ben Davis High School before receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Indiana University where he served as a police officer prior to joining the IMPD.  

Michael Wolley appointed Deputy Chief of Operations
North District Commander Michael Wolley will serve as the new Deputy Chief of the Operations Division. Mike Wolley started with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) in 2006 as a member of the 1st IMPD Recruit Class.

He began his career as a patrol officer on Northwest Middle Shift and remained there until 2011. Wolley then served as a Youth Violence Reduction Team Detective, Community Affairs Officer, and IMPD Recruiter out of the Media Relations Office. In 2016, Wolley was promoted to Sergeant and assigned to North District Late Shift. Just over a year later, he was reassigned as the executive officer to the North District Commander. In 2018, Deputy Chief Wolley was promoted to Lieutenant, where he was tasked with overseeing the Public Affairs Office (PIO). Shortly after, Wolley was appointed to North District Commander where he has served ever since.

Wolley has a master’s degree in Business Management from Indiana Wesleyan University and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Indianapolis. Wolley is a graduate of the 2013-01 Session of the IMPD Leadership Academy.

Deputy Chief Wolley and his wife Toni Wolley have two children: Maxwell and Myles.

Matthew Thomas named North District Commander
Commander Matthew Thomas has been named the new Commander of IMPD’s North District.  Commander Thomas, who most recently served as the Investigations Commander, will continue the North District philosophy of policing alongside the community.

During his five-year assignment to the Criminal Investigations Division, Commander Thomas led enhancements of the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force into a state-supported regional law enforcement team. He has led efforts within the Incident Analysis Center to leverage public safety cameras, B-Link cameras, and license plate readers in neighborhoods and entertainment zones to narrow the focus of detectives, officers, and analysts in their efforts to prevent crime and solve cases.

Prior to working in the Criminal Investigations Division, Commander Thomas was assigned to the North District as a patrol officer, strategic intelligence officer, crime reduction team officer, field training officer, and district supervisor. Commander Thomas started in law enforcement as a Reserve Police Officer in 2005.

Commander Thomas graduated from the IMPD Leadership Academy in 2012 and the FBI National Academy in 2020.

Commander Thomas holds a Bachelor of Science from the Indiana University School of Informatics, Certificate of Applied Computer Science from Purdue University, and Certificate in International Studies from Tec de Monterrey in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Commander Thomas is married and has three children.

“We want to thank Deputy Chief Barker for his years of service and dedication to the department and the residents of Indianapolis. We wish him all the best on his next endeavor,” said Chief Taylor.

“I am pleased to appoint these outstanding leaders who I know will continue the good work of our department and continue to move our city forward. Each of these individuals is committed to the safety and security of Indianapolis and brings years of experience to the team. I am so looking forward to what they will accomplish,” added Chief Taylor.