About 45 people from all over the country – one from New York City – want to become Selma’s new police chief, city Personnel Director Valerie Jones said.

Jones said the search for a new chief is going well. She’s been pleased with the number of applicants for the job.

“The response has been good,” she said.

The review process on the resumes will begin today, when Jones expects to meet with Selma Mayor James Perkins Jr.

“We’ll determine how we’re going to filter it out,” Jones said. “The Mayor wants to look at every single one (resume).”

Jones said the time and effort would be worthwhile when the city gets a new chief.

Perkins agreed.

“I want to take my time with it,” Perkins said, “(but) I also don’t want to prolong it any more than we have to.

Perkins said he doesn’t know when the final decision will be made, but it will be made as soon as possible.

“I am going to be trying to get down to a decision as quickly as possible,” he said.

Bobby Jacobs is serving as interim police chief until a permanent replacement can be found.

Former Chief Green was removed from the position in September, after Perkins was given appointment powers by the City Council. He is now a lieutenant in the Selma Police Department. Green has also filed an Equal Employment complaint against the city, alleging racial discrimination.

The case is currently pending.

Jones said the job was posted internally, on the Internet and in several newspapers around the state, including The Selma Times-Journal.

Jones said resumes from out-of-state came from the city’s internet advertising. Not all of the city’s jobs are posted online, Jones said.

“We don’t really have that many jobs to post (online),” she said

Many of the applicants come from out-of-state, including some from Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

Perkins said the process of interviewing and selecting candidates for

the position will be worked out today. He also said the city is right on schedule.

“The process is proceeding as planned,” he said.