Bainbridge Island city officials have announced the three finalists for police chief.

One candidate is from Washington, while the other two finalists are from Virginia and California.

The finalists are:

• Joseph “Joe” Clark, who is currently deputy police chief of the Norfolk Police Department in Norfolk, Virginia.

Bainbridge officials said Clark has more than 33 years of law enforcement experience and has worked for the Norfolk Police Department since 1986. He became deputy chief in Norfolk in 2017.

Clark has a master’s degree in education from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia and a bachelor’s degree in criminology from Saint Leo University in Saint Leo, Florida. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

• Carl Nielsen, police chief for Centralia.

Nielsen has more than 34 years of law enforcement experience and has been the police chief in Centralia since 2015. He previously served as a captain and a lieutenant in the Turlock Police Department in Turlock, California from 2007 to 2015. He has a master’s degree in emergency services administration and a bachelor’s degree in emergency services administration/vocational studies from California State University Long Beach in Long Beach, California. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

• David “Dave” Westrick, the police chief of Hollister, California.

Westrick has more than 28 years of law enforcement experience and has been with the Hollister Police Department in Hollister, California since 2003. He became the city’s police chief in 2013. He has a bachelor’s degree in public safety management from Union I&U in Sacramento, California, and he is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

“I’m excited to have such a strong slate of finalists for the city to consider as our next police chief,” said City Manager Morgan Smith.

“This is a critical position within the organization, and it’s important that we select a Chief who can continue to build on the positive connections that exist between our community and its police department,” Smith added.

A community reception with the candidates is planned for 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20 at city hall.

The new police chief will take over the Bainbridge department from Interim Chief Jeff Horn.

Horn has been interim chief since the departure of former chief Matthew Hamner, who is now police chief in Banning, California.

City officials said its headhunter firm reviewed 35 applicants for the Bainbridge position.

Bainbridge hopes to have the hiring process completed by the end of the December.