Errol Toulon Jr., the Bellone administration's top law enforcement adviser, is exiting county government to return to the New York City Department of Correction where he is taking a $185,000-a-year job as first deputy commissioner.

Toulon, a $125,515-a-year assistant deputy county executive, departs after nearly two years overseeing the county’s new traffic court and Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services Department, and the recent search for a new medical examiner. He earlier spent 22 years with the city correction department where he rose to the rank of captain.

Toulon, 51, a Lake Grove resident, was also a 2012 candidate against State Sen. John Flanagan (R-Northport), but dropped out of the race to take the job with the Bellone administration, six weeks before the Election Day, leaving Flanagan to run unopposed.

Toulon will start his new job July 14. Bellone aides say there is no immediate replacement. Toulon will remain a part-time member of five-member board at the Suffolk County Water Authority, where he makes $18,000 a year.