LEWISTON — City officials confirmed Thursday that the search for a new police chief has been narrowed down to four candidates.

City Administrator Bryan Kaenrath formed a seven-member committee immediately after David St. Pierre’s retirement. The panel includes a district attorney, school superintendent and youth justice specialist, and several professionals and members of the community. 

As a result of committee work and public listening sessions, a field of 18 was narrowed to seven fully qualified candidates before the committee settled on the four finalists. The candidates, who have not been named publicly, hail from Maine and across the country, including the Midwest and mid-Atlantic states, Kaenrath wrote in an email.

St. Pierre, who retired after 33 years at the Lewiston Police Department, was recently nominated to serve as Maine’s next U.S. Marshal. 

Listening sessions immediately followed St. Pierre’s retirement announcement in August. At one of the forums, several residents said priorities must include building trust and transparency especially in immigrant and minority neighborhoods where “systemic racism” plays a part in policing. Others said they want a chief who is present in neighborhoods, increases foot and bicycle patrols and who will work closely with community elders. 

Kaenrath said Thursday that the biggest takeaways and lessons learned from public sessions are that there is a strong desire for more public engagement and input opportunities.

“My sense is there are a lot of people who want to tell city leadership their thoughts and concerns, but they feel as though they don’t always have a forum to make their voices heard,” Kaenrath said. “Public safety is a very big concern all over Lewiston. Many residents, visitors (and others) do not feel safe in our downtown. There are many personal stories I have heard to illustrate people’s fears and concerns.”

Kaenrath said on several occasions that it was important to hear from residents what they expect to see in a new chief and, in a Thursday opinion piece, that rebuilding public trust “requires more than a single conversation.” He said feedback from listening sessions will guide the search, that through continued dialogue and partnership, Lewiston will find a new police chief who can help drive success for the city.

“… We will not only find a new chief of police who serves our city with skill and humility, but also take a meaningful step toward a stronger, more united Lewiston,” Kaenrath wrote. “That means listening more. It means owning mistakes. And it means being willing to adjust course when the expectations of the public are not being met.”

City officials are planning a news conference to announce the new chief, Kaenrath said. Public sessions much like the ongoing listening sessions, will be held with him and the new chief, he said.