The pool of candidates to become the next Durham police chief has been cut from 42 to 14, according to city officials.

The department is searching for its next leader to succeed Jose Lopez, who retired at the end of 2015.

The department has been subject to criticism under the leadership of Lopez after incidents that heightened tensions among the community, including the death of 17-year-old Jesus Huerta, who died while in police custody in late 2013.

Huerta died from a gunshot wound while handcuffed in the back of a police cruiser. Authorities say it was self-inflicted.

Criminal charges were not filed in the incident, which led to protests by the community.

The 14 candidates being considered for the next chief will move forward in the application process. City manager Tom Bonfield says the field of applicants was narrowed last week.

“Even though we’re at this stage, community input will still be important going forward, and we encourage the public to take advantage of the opportunities to share their thoughts, including the surveys and forums,” Bonfield said in a statement.

A release says the 14 remaining candidates will now go through a more extensive screening process, which will include a telephone interview and writing exercises. Bonfield says those actions will take place over the next two weeks.

The applicant field will then be trimmed further and the remaining candidates will be selected to participate in an assessment center, which is scheduled for February 29 through March 1. The top “two-to-three finalists” will then meet with police department staff and the public in late March.

Officials are still seeking public input through an online survey in English and Spanish.

A forum will also be held and conducted entirely in Spanish at 2:45 on Sunday afternoon at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, located at 810 W. Chapel Hill St.

It is expected that the final candidate will be offered the position in early April and begin in May.

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