The candidates will undergo final interviews with Director of Public Safety Jimmie Edwards, Krewson, the St. Louis Police Officers Association and the Ethical Society of Police. Edwards appoints the police chief, but Krewson is planning to have some say in the final decision, mayoral spokesman Koran Addo has said.

Edwards has vowed to name a new chief before the end of the year. The city has been without a permanent police chief since April, when then-Chief Sam Dotson abruptly retired on Krewson's first day in office. O'Toole was then named interim chief.

The city has required that police chief candidates have at least 10 years of experience at the rank of captain or higher. Eleven internal candidates met that criteria. Four internal candidates applied, but one had not been at a high enough rank for long enough, Personnel Director Rick Frank said.