AUSTINTOWN — The community will know who its next police chief is before the end of the month, officials say.

Trustees on Friday said they have completed interviews with five candidates, including three with direct ties to the department.

“On Monday, the 24th, at our regular staff meeting, we will conclude with an answer of who our next chief will be,” said Board of Trustees Chairman Bruce Shepas. “We will not release that information until we have notified the candidates and the new chief.”

Friday was the second day of the second and final phase of the interview process.

Township Administrator Mark D’Apolito said eight applicants applied and were screened by himself and outgoing Chief Robert Gavalier.

Gavalier, a 43-year veteran of the department, notified trustees in December of his intention to retire at the end of February.

Shepas said trustees recessed after Friday’s interviews ended and will reconvene Wednesday in executive session to discuss the candidates and make a final decision.

The final candidates include two current Austintown officers and one former officer.

Lt. William Hoelzel and Lt. Valerie Delmont are supervisors in Austintown’s patrol division. The pool also includes Kathy Dina, the director of security for Austintown Local School District and a former detective sergeant with the police department.

The two other candidates include Maj. Jeff Palmer, most recently employed with the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office and formerly the chief of police in Girard. In 2022, Palmer stepped in as chief deputy when Joe Dragovich retired. Palmer served as administrator of operations and supervisor of deputies under former Sheriff Paul Monroe.

The last candidate is Larry McLaughlin, a sergeant with the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, in charge of the Mahoning County Drug Task Force.

Austintown police Capt. Tom Collins also was among the applicants but withdrew earlier this month when he notified trustees that he would be retiring in March instead. Collins was promoted last year, officially taking the position he had effectively held since the retirement of Capt. Bryan Kloss.

Kloss served as interim chief after Gordon Ellis left to head up Franklin, Ohio police in 2005. Gavalier, then a 24-year veteran and FOP leader, was ultimately promoted to police chief from patrol division lieutenant, and Kloss stayed on with the department, eventually being promoted to captain. He retired about five years ago.