6 being considered for Kauai chief of police
Associated Press
LIHUE » A consulting firm has recommended six candidates to become Kauai County's police chief, a position that has been vacant for a year.
California-based CPS Human Resources Services selected the finalists from 60 applicants. Of the applicants, 20 were selected for a phone interview, company officials said.
CPS is being paid $50,000 by the county to help find a new police chief. The last police chief, K.C. Lum, resigned in June 2006 after a tumultuous tenure.
Some police commissioners were concerned that there were too few candidates.
Commissioner Carol Furtado said it was her understanding that there would be more than six to review.
"I didn't want this taken from the commission and put in the hands of a consultant," she said.
Commissioners Leon Gonsalves and Thomas Iannucci both said they would have liked to see more applicants. But all the commissioners, including Furtado, agreed that they didn't want to prolong the selection process.
Deputy County Attorney Rosa Flores said the commission is allowed to review the scrapped candidates, but warned it could slow the process and would require another contract with CPS.
Iannucci said a police chief will most likely be selected within the next three months.