STEUBENVILLE — With Steubenville Police Chief Ken Anderson set to retire a little more than a month from now, the search for his replacement begins in earnest this week.

Anderson is retiring with 33 years on the job, the last four as chief. His last day will be July 20.

City Manager Mike Johnson said a total of 10 applications were submitted, including three from within the department. A five-member executive subcommittee will meet behind closed doors this week to determine which candidates will be invited to interview Thursday.

By charter, the committee includes Johnson and Mayor Ralph Petrella. Johnson, as city manager, may designate one member, with the final two slots filled by City Council.

Council’s picks were Councilman-at-large Joel Walker and Councilman Royal Mayo, who chairs council’s Safety Committee. Johnson selected former city councilman Bob Villamagna.

Walker and Villamagna are both retired from the police department. Walker served 28 years, retiring as administrative captain. Villamagna joined the force in 1976, was promoted to sergeant in 1988 and retired in 2002 after 26 years of service.

“The plan is for the hiring committee to meet in executive session during (Tuesday’s) council meeting to pick the candidates to interview,” Johnson said. “Each member of the hiring committee will have a vote on who to interview and who to recommend to the city manager for hire. The plan for Thursday is to go into executive session and conduct the interviews.”

Johnson said he would then appoint the next police chief “after receiving approval from the hiring committee as well as approval from City Council.”

“The plan is not to name them at this time, although that is subject to change depending on the wishes of the hiring committee,” he said.

Johnson said he would prefer to hire from within the department if possible. Walker agreed, saying, “(but) if for some reason we can’t promote from (inside) the department, then we would move to the ones from outside. We have three good candidates.”

Petrella said he does not have a hiring preference, though he said the internal candidates are “extremely qualified, caring individuals who really love our community.”

“I don’t really have a preference, though I think that somebody who is an internal candidate will know the community and know the history of the revitalization and transformation of Steubenville,” he said. “But sometimes external candidates give us really good new ideas and can bring new thoughts and concepts to the force, so I think either way it’s a win-win and we’re going to have a great police chief when the search concludes.”