URBANA – Urbana's new assistant chief of police is not exactly new to the position.

Anthony Cobb filled that post for three months in 2007 while the then- assistant, now chief of Police Pat Connolly, was at the FBI Academy in Virginia.

It's just another in a long line of responsibilities Cobb has had in his 18 years with the Urbana police.

"I'm excited about it," the 40-year-old Cobb said of his promotion. "We have a lot of challenges ahead of us."

Connolly publicly announced Cobb as his assistant while emceeing the retirement reception Wednesday for former Chief Mike Bily, who turned 50 on his last day of employment with the city. The city council still has to approve Cobb's appointment, but he's a shoo-in given his record and reputation.

"It was something we discussed internally for some time. It wasn't a surprise to Anthony," said Connolly.

Cobb was surprised, however, at how Connolly made it public.

Connolly called Cobb the "logical choice" as his second in command due to his "incredible working relationship with the community as well as other law enforcement agencies within the community."

"The day I started working on the police department, he was one of our first community police officers and he's carried that over into his work in the community. He's one of a few mentors in the schools. He works with troubled youth. His commitment to the community is second to none," said Connolly.

"He's also very well-rounded within the department. He has spent a great deal of time as a patrol officer, a criminal investigator, a juvenile officer, and had a position of supervision overseeing all the patrol division. When I talked about Mike Bily hitting every rung (on the department chain of command), Anthony is right behind him. Anthony is intimately familiar with every facet of this police department," said the chief.

Cobb was raised with four brothers in Champaign by their mother Delores Derricks. He is a graduate of Centennial High School, where he was senior class president and captain of the football team. He now lives in Urbana and has a 14-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son.

He mentors a young man who's a sophomore at Central High School and has been with him since the fourth grade.

The first order of business for Connolly and Cobb will be to fill two empty lieutenant positions – Cobb's and that created by the recent retirement of Kent Jepsen. That will also mean sergeant positions will come open through promotions.

The department has 55 sworn officers, 10 of whom are sergeants. That number also includes the three lieutenant positions.

"There's a lot going on with reorganizing the structure, promoting the new lieutenants and getting them up to speed and getting a whole new management team to gel together. It's going to be a little bit of a transition," said Cobb.

Cobb said he plans to remain active in the community.

"I do know I need to get away from that desk," said Cobb.