IU Police Department chief passes away

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) - IU Police Department Chief Keith Cash passed away Wednesday evening at age 51.

A spokesperson for the department says Cash died at approximately 6:20 p.m. at Bloomington Hospital of natural causes.

Cash was a 29-year veteran of the IU Police Department. He was named chief in October 2010 after serving as an operations captain for nine years.

He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in criminal justice from IU Bloomington and graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy in 2004.

Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie released the following statement:

“Keith served Indiana University with enormous distinction and honor for nearly three decades culminating in a highly successful, and all too short, tenure as chief. Keith’s love for this university, and the Bloomington campus in particular, was apparent to all who knew him. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family members. He will be greatly missed, and we all grieve at the loss of such a wonderful man.”

Local departments took to Twitter following the announcement of Cash's passing.

State Excise Police and the Butler University Police Department sent out the following tweets Wednesday night:

We are saddened to learn of the death of IU Police Chief Keith Cash tonight. Our thoughts are with his family.

— State Excise Police (@ExcisePolice) March 21, 2013

Condolences to @ indianauniv Police Dept. tonight for their loss. Chief Keith Cash & his family remain in our thoughts & prayers.

— Butler Univ Police (@BUpoliceChief) March 21, 2013

Deputy Chief Laury Flint will serve as acting police chief until a permanent successor is named, according to a release.

Funeral arrangements for Cash are pending.