A big change for the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department.
The law enforcement agency announced Friday that Sheriff Eileen Whalon Behr will be stepping down after more than two years of service for a position as Director of Police Operations with Drexel University.
"Accepting this position with such a prestigious university in the city will allow me to get back to what is very close to my heart, which is working closely with the community," Behr said in a news release.
She called the decision to resign a difficult one. Behr was the first female to serve as sheriff and chief of police in the suburban Philadelphia county. She previously served as Whitemarsh Township's Chief of Police.
A MCSD spokeswoman says Chief Deputy Sheriff Alfred J. Ricci will likely take over Behr's duties while the county searches for her replacement.
A university spokeswoman declined to confirm the move, but said the school plans to make an announcement about the position in January.
The move comes as Drexel University continues to build its presence in West Philly.
"I love working with and mentoring young people, and coming up with new solutions to improve neighborhoods," she said.
Photo Credit: www.montcopa.org