A diverse batch of candidates has emerged at the forefront of the search for the city of Langley’s next chief of police.

Langley’s former chief, Don Lauer, retired Dec. 31 after serving just over five years in the department.

Three finalists were selected by the city’s Civil Service Commission out of four applicants who took an oral exam.

Mayor Scott Chaplin said a total of 22 people expressed interest in the position and 20 submitted applications, with only six of those applicants being eligible for the oral exam.

The three candidates who are being considered for the top role are Tavier Wasser, Andrea Clark and Arron Julian.

Wasser is currently a patrol deputy with the Island County Sheriff’s Office and the geographically closest to Langley out of all three candidates. He has served in the Marine Corps as a military policeman and Presidential Security Marine. The latter duty put him in charge of protecting the president and his assets during the Obama administration. He joined the Island County Sheriff’s Office in 2015.

Clark is a master patrol officer in Franklin, Tennessee. She has been in law enforcement for 14 years, with five of those years spent as a detective. She was previously a teacher and counselor at a boarding school that promotes independence through education, residential and community services for individuals with developmental disabilities. She has experience with social work and mental health counseling, among other skills.

Julian is the chief of police for the Bishop Paiute Tribe in New Mexico, a community just slightly larger than Langley at 2,000 residents. He has 35 years of law enforcement experience, including five years serving as a chief for various agencies. He has worked for tribal and non-tribal agencies as well as private companies. He is also a member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation.

Chaplin said background investigations and other tests will take until at least the end of the month to complete. A final decision will likely be made by the mayor in April.

Under state law, civil service is required for cities that have at least three full-time paid police officers, including the chief. Cities with six or more full-time officers may exclude the police chief from civil service coverage.

The new police chief’s salary has not yet been decided, but the job description lists a range of $73,000 to $97,000.

The previous chief was paid an annual salary of $94,744. The Langley City Council approved a cost-of-living adjustment in December 2021 that would have increased his pay to $97,239.