NORWAY – The search for a new police chief is winding to a close.

By the end of the week a list of three remaining candidates should be narrowed to two, Town Manager David Holt said Friday.

Three police chiefs and former Selectman Irene Millett have been interviewing the candidates, Holt said. On Wednesday, they will rank them.

“That group will rank these folks one to three based on the interviews,” Holt said. “I will probably make offers of employment to the top two.”

Holt acknowledged that offering two candidates a single job is unusual. The next step in the hiring process, however, is a background check that may pry into the personal lives of each candidate, he explained.

“It shows that we’re serious about employing them,” he said.

Even though two offers may soon be made, it could still be months before a new chief is hired. Holt hasn’t yet selected a person or firm to do the background checks. And, he said Friday, there may be lie detector tests and psychiatric examinations to follow.

“Until now, due to the graciousness of the three chiefs, we haven’t spent any money,” Holt said, referring to Brunswick Police Chief Jerry A. Hinton, Boothbay Harbor Police Chief Steve Clark and Topsham Police Chief Tim Young, all of whom have helped in the search process.

Holt had no estimate on the cost of the tests that may be administered to the final candidates.

The search for a new chief of police has been ongoing since April, after former Chief Tim Richards was fired after a female patrol officer had filed a protection-from-abuse order against him, alleging assault and continuing harassment.

The final three candidates were selected by the Police Chief Search Committee, which includes Selectmen William Damon, Robert Walker, George Tibbetts Jr., Leslie Flanders and Russell Newcomb, and residents Jancy Cazneau, David Everett, Don Gouin, Carol Perkins and Darlene Sessions.