Lts. Gallagher and Carney are Finalists for Interim Chief Spot

The applicant pool for interim police chief is down to two finalists within the department: Lt. Paul Gallagher and Lt. John Carney.

Selectmen voted Monday night to limit the candidates down to a small pool so interviews could be held publicly. The highest-ranking members of the Police Department who applied, Gallagher and Carney, were selected for consideration.

Ten people had applied for the interim police chief job.

“I think that’s a great credit to the department, that many people stepping up and showing lot of commitment to the department,” Selectman William Gordon said. “We certainly appreciate that.”

Police Chief Richard Stanley a town in which he has served as part-time chief on Fridays and weekends for more than a year. His last day in North Andover will be May 16, before which he plans to help the department transition to an interim chief appointed by Town Hall.

Gordon said he contacted the town’s labor attorney and was told that if the selectmen narrow the field to a select few, they would have to hold the interviews in public. The other selectmen said they were fine with that.

“I think these are two lieutenants that will make a smooth transition here,” Selectman Don Stewart said.

Selectmen Dan Lanen and Rosemary Smedile removed themselves from the discussion and the vote. Lanen is a North Andover Police officer, and Smedile’s son is on the police force as well.

Interviews of the two finalists for interim chief are planned for Friday at Town Hall. Selectmen said they hope to have a permanent police chief by the end of the summer. Stay with Patch for developments on the police chief search and transition.