FORKS — Two finalists for the Forks police chief position have visited the town and department, and the City Council is expected to select a new chief by Nov. 23, Forks Mayor Bryon Monohon said Thursday.

Both are currently police chiefs in similar-size towns in the Pacific Northwest and have extensive job experience, Monohon said.

“Whichever one is selected, I’m excited about working with them,” he said.

Confidentiality

Monohon withheld their names, citing confidentiality.

He said the finalists have not informed their current departments they are looking for work elsewhere.

One of the finalists is living in Washington state, while the other is from Washington state but is currently working in another Northwest location.

“Both have good reasons for wanting to move to Forks,” Monohon said.

Police Chief Doug Price resigned unexpectedly Sept. 26 after eight months as the top cop in the city’s 14-member department.

Price handed his letter of resignation to public officials at the Sept. 26 council meeting, Monohon said.

Price came into the job already knowing the area, having served at the State Patrol station in Forks from 1993 to 1995.

When Price took the reins in February, the police chief position had been open for a year since Monohon fired Police Chief Mike Powell in January 2010.

Price’s last day

Price’s last day on the job was Oct. 31.

Since then, the chief’s duties have been spread between other department members, Monohon said.

No interim chief was named, nor will there be one before the new chief begins in December, he said.

Monohon said the department has been operating well without an interim chief, much to Price’s credit.

“You can tell he was moving the department in a good direction,” he said.

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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.