(AP) — The city of Sidney in the Nebraska Panhandle has named a police chief from Illinois as its new leader.

Byron “B.J.” Wilkinson was chosen as the city’s new police chief after several months of searching to replace Mike Brown. Brown resigned to move to Kansas for personal family matters.

Wilkinson was police chief of Litchfield, Ill., for 10 years and has been in law enforcement for more than 20 years.

Sidney City Manager Gary Person says Wilkinson will operate a police department with a $1 million budget, as well as 14 sworn officers and two civilian employees.

Wilkinson plans to begin his new job toward the end of July.