FORT PIERCE – Fort Pierce City Manager Richard Chess has announced that 57 candidates have applied for the position of Fort Pierce chief.

The application process officially closed at the end of September.

Chess told the Fort Pierce City Commission Monday that he tentatively plans to conduct initial interviews with preliminary finalists on Oct. 23-24.

Unlike the process earlier this year for hiring the new city manager, the police chief is chosen by the city manager with the affirmation of the city commission. As a result, candidate interviews do not have to be done in public.

The professional recruiting firm S. Renee Narloch & Associates, of Tallahassee, was hired to conduct a nationwide search, at a cost of $24,450, plus expenses not to exceed $4,500.

The city has not characterized the mix of applications it has received for the top cop job, including how many came from within the department’s existing command staff, how many are from other Florida law enforcement agencies and how many came from other states.

Calls to Chess and Narlock & Associates for additional information were not returned.

According to the job posting, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, public administration or political science and be Florida-licensed or able to obtain it within a year. A master’s degree is preferred, along with at least 10 years of police supervisory experience, including three years at bureau commander level or higher, and completion of a nationally recognized advanced law enforcement administration course.

The posted starting salary range is $128,250-$212,000, depending upon qualifications. City residency will be required.

Former chief Diane Hobley-Burney resigned in May after department employees issued a statement of “lost confidence” in her leadership.

She had been chief here for 10 years.

Robert Ridle, a deputy chief and 28-year police veteran, was tapped to lead the department during the transition. He had said he was not interested in the job and plans to retire from the department in 2026.