Champaign ended its five-month long search for a new police chief Friday morning by selecting Anthony Cobb, former assistant police chief for Urbana. Cobb’s appointment as the new Champaign police chief will begin March 12 at a salary of $140,000.

“Anthony’s overall experience working in a diverse community and his existing relationships with colleagues — including students at the University of Illinois — are additional attributes that will benefit him and our community,” said Steve Carter, Champaign city manager.

Cobb was one of four finalists first announced by Champaign on Nov. 30, 2011. This began an “exhaustive” process that included public interviews with city council members and thorough background and reference checks, said Carter.

Champaign Mayor Don Gerard called the hiring process “a triumph for the community.” He said the transparency and public inclusion made him confident that Cobb was the best choice for the position.

“At the end of the day, it’s not just getting a guy who physically is from here. (Cobb) is a guy who we felt was in tune with the issues that we need to deal with,” Gerard said. “We got the right guy.”

Cobb said ensuring a high morale among Champaign police officers is “probably my top priority right now. Internal workings, getting buy-in from the men and women that I’m going to work with is tantamount — that’s key.”