The Langley Police Department had about two weeks operating at its funded full force of four officers before Officer Michael Beech resigned.

Chief Dave Marks told the city council that Beech resigned to pursue other passions after two decades in law enforcement, most of which was spent as an Island County Sheriff’s Office deputy.

Beech was hired in August 2014. Langley’s newest officer, Lucas Adkins, started in late February and was the city’s fourth lawman.

Having recently gone through the officer search and interview process, which is handled in part by the city’s Civil Service Commission, Marks said he had a candidate in mind.

Beech and another applicant, Tim Black, were neck-and-neck in the hiring process, Marks said, and he will be offered the job after determining he is still interested. Black, Marks said, was already planning on moving from the Southwest to the Langley area.

The decision was previously approved by the Civil Service Commission.

Black will be the city’s fourth new officer in two years.