Escalon City Council members have re-issued the call to interested applicants that want to be the city’s next Chief of Police.

Wanting to get more of a pool to draw from, the council agreed to hang on to the ‘finalists’ from the last group of applicants but also go out a second time and seek additional candidates.

“The applicants being considered for interview have been contacted and still wish to remain in the process,” said acting City Manager Tammy Alcantor, noting that two of those initial finalists are from California and one is from out of state.

“The new deadline (for applications) is January 21, 2014,” added Alcantor.

Council members have not yet set a schedule for the candidate interviews but Alcantor said once they receive the second round of applications, that process can proceed. She anticipates a hire date around April 1 of next year, with acting chief Milt Medeiros remaining in the position while the search continues.

Alcantor, meanwhile, maintains her role as acting City Manager, with assistance as needed from former manager Henry Hesling.

He has remained ‘on call’ and provides insight and direction on various projects, said Alcantor, but does not have any specific office hours or days dedicated to being in the city.

Coming up in the new year, Alcantor said she is putting figures together to provide the council with a mid-fiscal year budget review.

“I have just started my mid-year review but feel confident that we are still within our budget numbers,” she said.