(MCT) — CHICAGO—Elgin Deputy Police Chief Cecil Smith has been offered the job of police chief in Sanford, Fla., the community that drew national controversy over authorities’ handling of the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, officials announced Tuesday.

If Smith accepts the job, he would succeed former Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee, who was fired last year after a public outcry when police failed to quickly arrest shooting suspect George Zimmerman. Critics accused Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, with targeting Martin, 17, because he was black. Zimmerman has claimed he acted in self defense.