Two weeks before he officially becomes sheriff of St. Joseph County, Mark Lillywhite was sworn in to the position Tuesday afternoon.
A ceremony was set for 4 o’clock in the third-floor commissioners’ room at the Centreville courthouse, where county clerk Lindsay Oswald lead the procedure.
Current sheriff Brad Balk is retiring Jan. 31, 11 months before the conclusion of the four-year term to which he was elected in 2016.
A three-member panel of county officials last fall selected Lillywhite to serve the 11 remaining months of Balk’s term. Lillywhite, who has served as undersheriff since 2009, has already filed his paperwork to run for sheriff in this year’s election.
The 44-year-old Lillywhite is a Three Rivers resident.