Port Arthur Police Chief Patrick Melvin has been named one of six finalists for the police chief job in St. Louis, Missouri.

Melvin was named chief of police in Port Arthur in September 2016, replacing retired former chief Mark Blanton.

According to www.stlouis-mo.gov, the city’s website, Melvin and the other finalists appeared at a town hall meeting Thursday. He and the other candidates was scheduled to be interviewed by Mayor Lyda Krewson and Public Safety Director Jimmie Edwards, Koran Addo, the mayor’s spokesman said.

City leaders hope to have someone in place by the first of the year, he said.

Former St. Louis police chief Sam Dotson retired about 24 hours after Krewson was sworn in as mayor in April.

“It was a mutual parting,” Addo said. “The mayor felt we needed a new direction and the chief decided to retire.”

A citizens advisory committee was formed consisting of social activists, equity groups, law enforcement and others. The city hired a firm and went through the International Association of Chiefs of Police in their nationwide search. The 42 applicants were narrowed to six.

Other candidates include: Mary Edwards-Fears of St. Louis, Stephen Geron of Dallas, John Hayden of St. Louis, Keith Humphrey of Norman, Oklahoma and Lawrence O’Toole of St. Louis.

This search marks the first time St. Louis has looked out of state for a chief. Addo said until 2013 the police department was under state control — a provision that had been in place since the Civil War.

Before coming to Port Arthur, Melvin retired as chief of police at Salt River Police Department, Scottsdale, Arizona for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. He has more than 30 years experience in law enforcement and is a U.S. Army veteran.

He previously served as an assistant city manager for the city of Maricopa, Arizona, public safety director and fire chief/public safety manager.

The Casa Grande Dispatch reported that Melvin left the Arizona post after being placed on administrative leave in April 2016 and resigned a few weeks later. In July 2016 he learned he was a finalist for the top spot in Memphis, Tennessee. Port Arthur hired him in September 2016.

Melvin’s time in Port Arthur has been marked by contention and change.

Minor changes including changing from light blue uniforms to a black uniform. Melvin participated in Chat with the Chief, where he met with citizens to talk about various topics.

Not long after he look over the top spot here he instituted changes, transferring officers to different duty assignments, promoting officers up several ranks and disbanding the street crimes unit in favor of the community response unit.

In November, the Port Arthur Police Association issued a vote of no confidence against Melvin, citing those issues and others, such as his response to Tropical Storm Harvey, subsequent flooding and reportedly being out of contact during the emergency.

Lance Bradley, PAPA attorney, said the union has no comment on Melvin’s job search.

Port Arthur Mayor Derrick Freeman could not be reached for comment.

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Port Arthur Police Chief Patrick Melvin has been named as one of six finalists for the police commissioner job in St. Louis, Missouri.

According to www.stlouis-mo.gov, the city’s website, Melvin and the other finalists appeared at a town hall event at St. Louis University’s Law Campus on Thursday night.

Melvin has been with Port Arthur Police Department since May 2016 and came under fire, so to speak, when the police union announced a vote of no confidence recently.

This is a developing story. Check back as more information becomes available.