MANDEVILLE, La. - Mayor Bubby Lyons now has 23 choices for police chief.
Nearly two dozen candidates fit the city's requirements for a new chief out of a field of 42 people that had applied.
"I can definitely say that we'll have a good, qualified police chief," Mayor Lyons told Eyewitness News Thursday.
Lyons said he hopes to start interviews Monday, and name a new chief by mid-January.
“I feel like the process that Mayor Lyons is following right now, although he's perfectly entitled to do so. In light of the situation in Mandeville and our past history, I think the process is flawed," Trilby Lenfant, the leader of the Mandeville City Council said Thursday, "and I don't think we want to rush into this."
Lenfant said that in her opinion, not only is Lyons rushing through the process, but she believes more people should be involved. Mayor Lyons said he and his Human Resources Director will conduct the interviews.
"I'm a stickler for the law," Lyons said, "The law says that the mayor will appoint and the council will hopefully ratify the appointment."
"I think legally, it is his legal right to do so," Lenfant added, "Whether or not it's right for the community is another question."
Council member Jerry Coogan told Eyewitness News he has no problem with how Lyons is handling the process. "I'm ok with that, that's the administration, that's their responsibility."
The 23 candidates are all hoping to replace longtime Mandeville Police Chief Tom Buell. Buell resigned late last year in the wake of a scathing state legislative audit report. A report commissioned by the Metropolitan Crime Commission in the summer of 2008 found the Mandeville Police Department lacking in leadership, and experiencing morale problems, but it also found the department did an excellent job solving crime, and responding to calls. "We have a good department," Lyons said. "Response time is second to none. Crime rate is second to none."
Coogan told Eyewitness News that Lyons credentials as the former Mayor of Houma and Terrebonne Parish President make him the ideal person to pick the next chief. "He has selected two police chiefs previously. He's got more experience than we could ever want," Coogan said.
Once Mayor Lyons selects his new chief, the City Council will have to approve the selection. "Of course, it's the prerogotive of the council to accept my appointment or not," Lyons added.
The Mandeville Police Chief position no longer carries civil service protection. That means the next mayor could fire Lyons' appointment, and appoint their own chief. Lyons will not run for Mayor of Mandeville in the special election March 27. Both Lenfant and Coogan are possible candidates.
List of candidates for the next police chief.
Baton Rouge Police Capt. Rudolph Babin
Former NOPD Paul Bolian
U.S. Marshal's Office Senior Inspector Robert Bruno
Cordova, Alaska Police Chief Christopher Canaski
Mulberry, Fla. Police Chief Lawrence Cavallaro
NOPD Captain Donald Curole
Harahan Police Chief Peter Dale
Former FBI Agent Dennis Dufour
St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Lt. James Elmore
Former Highwood Point, Ill. Police Chief John Kearin
Former NYPD Capt. Gerald Mines
Woodstock, Geo. Police Chief Richard Moss
NOPD Captain April Overman
Capitol Heights, Maryland Police Chief Robert Patton
St. Bernard Sheriff's Major David Peralta
FBI Special Agent Percy Richard
Mandeville Police Capt. Ron Ruple
St. Tammany Sheriff's Deputy Chief Donald Sharp
Former Slidell Police Chief of Detectives Sigmund Swenson
Northern Kentucky University Police Chief Harold Todd
Former Louisiana State Police Lt. Colonel Frank Tridico
U.S. Dept. of Veteran's Affairs Police Chief Christopher Williams
Former JPSO Sgt. Steven Wilson
