Montgomery County police chief candidate withdraws name from consideration, officials say

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (FOX 5 DC) - One of Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich's top picks to become the county's next police chief has withdrawn her name from consideration.

On Tuesday afternoon, Elrich released the following statement on Tonya Chapman's withdrawal: 

"I have received a letter from Tonya Chapman stating that she has withdrawn her name from consideration to be Montgomery County’s next chief of police. She brought a wealth of experience and knowledge that would have been good for the County. I wish her the best in her future endeavors.

Public safety remains a top priority for me and my administration; and I will move expeditiously, and carefully, to identify a new candidate for police chief for our County.

Over the course of the past few months, I have received significant input from the community, and I am confident I will be able to select a new police chief soon."

Earlier this month, Elrich told FOX 5 he defended his choice to fill the county's vacant police chief position saying that Chapman shared his vision of policing and that he is not concerned by the way her last job ended. 

Chapman was forced to resign as chief of police in Portsmouth, Virginia after the city manager told her she had lost the "confidence of the department".

After losing her job in Portsmouth, Chapman wrote an open letter to the community saying some members of the force pushed back on her effort to change the culture of the department.

Elrich told FOX 5 he was "not concerned" about Chapman's forced resignation.

Chapman spent more than 20 years with the Arlington County Police Department before serving as a Deputy Chief in Richmond. She then was recruited to work for the governor's office in Homeland Security. 

This story is developing. Check back for updates.