CCPD Police Chief Anthony Sizemore.

The search for a new chief to lead the Cape Coral Police Department has been winnowed to three finalists, including the current interim chief.

Anthony Sizemore, who has been with the CCPD since 1998, is among the named contenders for the position as are Richard A. Bash, deputy chief of police, chief of staff, for the Columbus Division of Police; and McKinley D. Coffin Jr., chief of police for the New Smyrna Beach Police Department.

Sizemore was named interim chief of the CCPD upon the retirement of former chief David Newlan, who now serves as executive director of Public Safety for the School District of Lee County.

Sizemore has worked his way up from patrol officer and held every rank through deputy chief before Cape Coral City Manager Robert Hernandez named him interim chief last November.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Hodges University and certification from the Police Executive Research Forum – Senior Management Institute for Police.

Richard Bash, deputy chief from Columbus, Ohio

Bash has served with the Columbus Police since 1997, where he began as an officer, rising through the ranks to the position of deputy chief in 2010. He holds a master’s degree in the science of management from Mt. Vernon Nazarene University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Ohio Dominican University. He is a certified Force Science Expert and serves as an adjunct professor at Ohio State University where he teaches criminology.

Coffin has served as chief of police of the New Smyrna Beach Police Department since 2015. He previously served as chief deputy, second in command to the sheriff, with the Volusia County Sheriff’s office and as director of Public Protection for Volusia County. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1979 to 1987 where his duties included law enforcement and search and rescue before joining the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. He holds a master’s degree in homeland security and defense from the Naval Postgraduate School, a master’s in forensic science from National University and a bachelor’s degree in organizational management from Warner University.

The Cape Coral Police Department is a city agency. It has 270 sworn officers and 102 civilian employees. Its annual budget is $62 million.

The next step in the hiring process will include a visit to the city of Cape Coral, which officials said is planned for this week.

There will be a Council Member meet-and-greet event on Thursday, April 22, at the Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village from 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.

Mike Coffin, police chief in New Smyrna Beach

“This will allow the Mayor and Council Members to meet the candidates,” city officials said Monday.

The event is open to the public. Department directors also will be invited to attend.

City Department heads, of which the chief of police is one, are hired by the city manager. Hernandez has not announced a hiring deadline.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include the details of the city’s meet-and-greet.