CHOICE IN CAIRO: CITY OFFICIALS TO REVIEW POLICE CHIEF APPLICATIONS

CAIRO, Ill. -- Cairo officials will start reviewing applications for chief of police later this week.

"We'll receive the applications Thursday," said James Wilson, mayor of the southernmost city in Illinois. "Candidates will be notified by July 7 as to their status in the search."

Interviews for candidates under consideration will be arranged.

Wilson hopes to see a new police chief in place by Aug. 1.

Brenda J. Miller, city clerk, said Monday, "We have about six or eight applications here now."

The application deadline is 5 p.m. today.

The position became vacant May 20 when Police Chief Harold Nelson announced his plans to retire after a year as head of the department.

Nelson, 61, announced he was resigning because of health and family reasons.

"We were pleased with Nelson's performance and hated to see him resign," said Wilson.

"He came aboard here during a crucial period and got us through some tough times and put the department on solid footing. We knew he would retire soon. But, he has agreed to stay on until Aug. 1."

Nelson replaced Burl Pickett as police chief in May 1992.