Nearly 20 applicants for Anna police chief

Nearly 20 people have applied to become the next chief of the Anna Police Department.

Anna city administrator Steve Guined said that initial interviews of applicants are scheduled to begin Monday, Nov. 25. Interviews will be conducted at Anna City Hall.

The new chief will succeed Kerry Ray in the post. Ray plans to serve as chief until May 2014.

Guined said he planned to share an update on the hiring process at a regular meeting of the Anna City Council which was planned Tuesday evening, Nov. 19.

Persons interested in the job had until Nov. 1 to submit an application.

Guined said that about 20 men with a wide range of backgrounds submitted applications. The applicants came from Illinois and from outside the state. Some are local.

The city administrator is scheduled to do preliminary interviews of applicants. Guined plans to submit the names of the top three applicants to the city council.

He hopes to be able to submit the names of the three applicants to the city council for its review by December or January.

Guined said the city hopes to have a new chief named by early 2014.