THOMASVILLE — The 30-day application period for Thomasville police chief ends Monday, but it can be extended, City Manager Alan Carson said.

To date, 29 applications have been received, Carson said, adding that five applicants are local.

Chief Troy Rich will retire Oct. 5, after six years as chief and 30 years total of Thomasville Police Department service.

The city has contracted with the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police in Duluth to assist in the chief search.

“They’ll vet the process down to between seven to nine and test applicants and give the city no more than three,” Carson said.

Candidates will be tested on five skills. Carson said the applicant field will be narrowed to no more than nine for testing.

Carson hopes to hire a chief before Rich’s departure. If a new chief has not been chosen by then, an interim chief is possible, he said.

The police chiefs association would provide a pool of interim chief candidates Carson would interview before choosing an interim.

With the hiring of a police chief pending, Carson is in the process of interviewing candidates for Thomasville fire/rescue chief. The application process for a fire/rescue chief is being handled by a firefighter association.

The police chief organization will begin looking at applications Monday and will notify Carson if additional applications from qualified applicants are needed.

 Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820