For the second time in just over a year, Collinsville will be searching for a police chief.

Police Chief Eric Van Hook tendered his resignation Thursday to City Manager Scott Williams, the man he replaced as police chief on Sept 3. 2012. Van Hook has accepted the Director of Public Safety position with the city of O’Fallon, Ill.

A Collinsville native and 1986 graduate of Collinsville High School, Van Hook was a member of the O’Fallon Police Department for 22 years, before returning to Collinsville last year. Hook said his new job is “somewhat of a dream come true.”

“I had 22 years invested in the O’Fallon Police Department. A good deal of that was with the goal to obtain the position of Director of Public Safety,” Van Hook said.

In addition to being O’Fallon’s Police Chief, Van Hook will also be in charge of the city’s emergency management services.

Williams said the city is appreciative of Van Hook’s service. “We enjoyed having him, he’s done a great job for us and we wish him well,” Williams said.

Van Hook will remain with the Collinsville Police Department until Nov. 29. Williams said the search for a replacement began the moment he was notified of Van Hook’s resignation. The search will include candidates from within the Collinsville Police Department and elsewhere, Williams said. He wants to have a new chief identified by the time Van Hook departs.

Van Hook will replace John Betten in O’Fallon, Betten died in September after a long battle with Cancer.

O’Fallon mayor Gary Graham said Van Hook’s leadership and involvement in the community made him stand out among the other candidates. “He was very involved in civic affairs, and that’s one of the things we looked at,” Graham said. “I think he is just an outstanding leader.”