Search for new chief of police in Yuma down to 3 candidates

The search for a new police chief in Yuma is down to three candidates.

City officials are seeking a successor for John Lekan, who announced last March his plans to retire.

Lekan has been with the Yuma Police Department for 33 years with the last 12 as chief.

The three finalists are Yuma Deputy Police Chief Susan Smith, Phoenix Police Department Commander Michael Parra and Patrick Melvin who is a retired police chief of Port Arthur, Texas.

Melvin has held the position of chief previously in Arizona with the Salt River Police Department and the City of Maricopa.

Parra has been a Phoenix police officer since 1983 while Smith has been a Yuma police officer since 1995.

The three candidates will be in Yuma for interviews with city officials Wednesday.