Police Department watchers: Relax; City Hall says police chief announcement likely next week, not this week

The city manager's office on Wednesday said it hoped to name the city's new police chief next week, the week of May 12.

Four finalists remain in the running, two out-of-staters, and two locals. They are Kenneth Greg Graham, 46, deputy police chief in Ocala, Fla.; Jeff Hadley, 37, police captain in Fort Wayne, Ind.; and Steve O'Konek, 46, and Bernie Walther, 47, Cedar Rapids police captains.

After a first round of interviews of seven candidates, the city's Civil Service Commission determined that five of the seven were qualified to be the Cedar Rapids chief. The commission ranked the five, with O'Konek first, Graham, second, Hadley, third, Capt. Joseph D'Agostino, 49, of the Port St. Lucie, Fla., fourth, and Walther, fifth.

D'Agostino withdrew after a second round of interviews with City Manager Jim Prosser, Mo Sheronick, assistant city attorney, and Conni Huber, the city's human resources director.

Prosser makes the final selection with the approval of the City Council.

The new chief replaces Mike Klappholz, who retired in March.

During the first interviews, Sheronick noted that the Cedar Rapids department has not had a chief from outside its ranks for more than 30 years.

Videotapes of the first round of interviews can be found at neighborhoodnetworknews.com.