Mandeville has begun accepting applications for the position of police chief.

The City Council adopted a job description Thursday night, paving the way for Interim Mayor Edward “Bubby” Lyons to start officially accepting applications Friday morning.

With a job description in hand and an advertisement running in the local papers, Lyons hopes to have a large field of applications to chose from and feels he is back on schedule to present an applicant at one of the January council meetings. The position is an appointment of the mayor but whoever is chosen is subject to the approval of the City Council.

Mayor Pro Tem Trilby Lenfant, who has advocated for not appointing a chief until a nationwide search could be conducted, was the only council members voting against the job description presented Thursday.

Lenfant said the one and only problem she had with the description was that it no longer requires applicants to posses a college degree.

This was the only change made to the job description following former Police Chief Tom Buell’s forced retirement in 2008.

“Why are we dummying down position by not requiring a college degree,” Lenfant asked City Attorney David Cressy.

Cressy said the change was not meant to dumb down the requirements but rather to open it up for more for individuals who may have the experience but lack the diploma.

Acting Chief Ron Ruple backed Cressy, saying he agrees that experience can often be more beneficial than a degree.

“A lot people in this area have been in law enforcement for over 20 years and have a lot of experience, but a lot of them never got into a situation that they were able to finish their schooling, “ Ruple said.

The job description requires applicants to hold a college degree in police science, law enforcement, criminal justice, public administration or a related field.

But there are expemptions for the college degree requirement for individuals who have graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy.

Applicants must also have 10 years of prior law enforcement experience with at least six years having been served in the rank of sergeant or higher.

Lyons said in his past experience he has had people take test for chiefs of police in other cities where he has served as mayor or parish president, and scored higher because of experience and then those with college education.

He stressed that he does not have anyone in mind, and will consider all applicants.

“We are looking for the best person, and I intend to find him or her,” he told the council.

The city’s Humane Resources Department will accept applications through 4 p.m. on Dec. 7, and after that time, Lyons and Human Resources Director Gretchen McKinney will begin holding interviews.

It appears the Lyons will have plenty of applicants to choose from as he had already forwarded 18 to the Human Resources department even before Tuesday night’s meeting.