Oak Harbor’s new police chief will be named today.

Mayor Bob Severns said he was pleased with two candidates who went through interviews with two panels and then met with the community in a “meet and greet” last week. He said he expects to make the final decision Wednesday.

Severns will choose between Othello Police Chief Phil Schenck and former Wenatchee police officer Kevin Dresker.

“I would feel comfortable with either candidate,” Severns said. “I was impressed with both of them. They are each very qualified.”

Schenck was a finalist for the position four years ago when former Mayor Scott Dudley hired Ed Green as the chief. He was police commander in Sunnyside before becoming the chief in Othello, according to the Daily Sun.

Dresker was a police officer and left the force to handle security for a conglomeration of hospitals, Severns said. He was one of three finalists this May for the Wenatchee police chief job.

Severns said 18 people applied for the job that came open after Green resigned earlier this year. The candidates were narrowed to four individuals who were scheduled to go through the interview process last week, but only two candidates showed up.

One of the candidates was John Dyer, a longtime Oak Harbor police officer who rose to the rank of lieutenant before leaving in 2012 to take a job as police chief in Rifle, Colo. He pulled out of the interview in Oak Harbor to take a job as police chief in Lake Stevens.