POLICE CHIEF HOPEFULS INTERVIEWED

City manager Michael Miller said he expected a new police chief to be named within two weeks after he interviewed three of the four finalists for the job on Wednesday.

"I'd hope to have it done by then anyway," Miller said.

The fourth candidate, who comes from within the department, was interviewed last week, Miller said.

Miller refused to name the candidates, saying that identifying them would make it difficult on the candidates who hold jobs elsewhere.

"It's also difficult to get applicants in the first place if they know their names are going to get back to their communities," he said.

Miller would also not name the candidate from within the department, though it is known to be Capt. Steve Strong.

"I think everybody knows who it is," Miller said. "But I haven't talked to him to ask his permission to give his name out."

Strong was unavailable for comment.

Residency problem

Residency could be a problem for Strong, who lives in the county. While it is not a policy for Cape Girardeau police chiefs to live in the city, Miller believes that the police chief should live in the city limits.

But Miller insisted he has not ruled out Strong as a candidate.

"That I'd have to look into," he said. "But his residence status isn't precluding him from consideration. Not at all."

Detective Bill Bohnert, who is treasurer of the Cape Girardeau Police Officer's Association, said the association planned to meet with the candidates Wednesday night.

He said even they would not know the candidates' identities unless the candidates wanted them to. But they would be allowed to ask questions.

Miller said candidates were asked about experience and their philosophy about running a police department.

"We'll see how that matches up with our local department," he said. "We want a good match between the department and the chief."

Miller will then narrow the list down even further and begin looking at the backgrounds of the remaining candidates.

The next police chief will replace Rick Hetzel, who left in May on the heels of an evaluation of police department operations.