Urbana Names New Asst. Police Chief

The Urbana Police Department has picked a new assistant chief of police to replace Anthony Cobb, who will become the head of the Champaign Police Department on March 12.

On Monday night, the Urbana City Council unanimously approved the appointment of Sylvia Morgan.

During her nearly 20-year tenure with Urbana police, Morgan has served as a patrol officer, a detective, and as a sergeant overseeing the street crimes unit. In her new role, she said she wants to work on improving morale within the Urbana Police Department.

"The police aren't always viewed in the best light, so that wears on police officers," Morgan said. "I think it is important and I have a good relationship now with most of the department from working with them every day. So, I think keeping up the morale of the police department would be one of the ways we could try to work well with the community as well."

Morgan is the first woman to serve as the assistant chief of police in Urbana.

(Photo by Sean Powers/WILL)