Two finalists left from 31 people who applied will be interviewed next week as the three-month process of selecting Bel Air’s new police chief nears its end.
They will be interviewed Wednesday at town hall before a panel of six town department heads, Town Administrator Jesse Bane said.
Bane said the finalists for the chief’s post are both Harford County residents who were selected from a group of six candidates narrowed down from the field of 31 applicants. Most of the applicants, he said, live Harford County or other parts of Maryland, with a few from out-of-state, including one from Tennessee.
The town administrator said the finalists were recommended by the five town commissioners, who conducted earlier interviews of the six remaining candidates.
He said the four candidates not recommended by the commissioners could still be in the running, however, if the department heads don’t offer the job to either finalist.
“We have not totally eliminated them from the process, and we will be back in touch with them with any further developments,” Bane said.
Human Resources Director Michael Krantz will chair the six-person interview board. He will be joined by Deputy Chief Richard Peschek, plus the directors of public works, planning, economic development and finance.
“We will make a decision at that time whether it will be one of those two, or whether we will contact the four candidates to set up more interviews,” Bane said.
Bane said town leaders hope to announce by the second week of September that a new chief has been named, “but no later than the end of September.”
The police chief’s salary ranges from $95,064 to $104,808, “based on experience, knowledge, skills, abilities,” Krantz said.
The candidate who is selected will succeed Leo Matrangola, who died July 12 from leukemia. Matrangola, who went on an extended medical leave last fall and then retired shortly before his death, was chief for 24 years.
Capt. Jack Meckley, of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, served as Bel Air’s interim chief from November until June 30, when he returned to the Sheriff’s Office. Peschek has been the acting chief since July 1.
The town began formally advertising for a new chief in June.
A job listing posted on the town’s website June 12 stated that candidates should have at least 10 years of relevant law enforcement experience, plus four years of supervisory experience and a bachelor’s degree at a minimum.
