Bermuda's top Police officers are being interviewed today in a bid to find the next Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner on the Island.

The four candidates are being grilled throughout the whole of today, with interviews taking place in alphabetical order.

Each of the candidates are superintendents, who have spent many months in rotating acting roles as deputy and assistant commissioner.

The candidates are Gertrude Barker, Jonathan Smith, George Jackson, and Vic Richmond.

It is expected to be a hard-fought battle for the commissioner's job, and an announcement is likely to be made by Governor Thorold Masefield before Christmas.

The Royal Gazette understands the interviews will be conducted by Deputy Governor Tim Gurney, Police Commissioner Jean-Jacques Lemay, Director of Personnel Services Judith Hall-Bean and Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Robert Horton.

Yesterday, Mr. Gurney would only say that the process to identify a new commissioner and deputy was continuing.

But a source revealed that the interviews were due to happen today.

Mr. Gurney said: "The interviews will be taking place shortly. There are no outside candidates -- only the four superintendents.'' However, he said it was a level playing field between the four candidates, despite one of them not being given an opportunity to attend the gold commanders' course at the senior training centre Bramshill in the UK.

The Royal Gazette believes the superintendent who missed out on the course has expressed some concern to the interview panel, fearing that he was at a disadvantage.

Search on for new Commissioner But yesterday Government House was keen to dispel any worries and said each of the candidates had an equal chance at the posts.

Mr. Gurney added: "It's an equal playing field for all of the candidates.

"Some have had more formal Police education than others, but it's an even playing field.

"There are four superintendents who are each bringing their own skills, experience and qualities to the interview process and they will be judged on that basis.

"Despite considerable efforts, it was not possible to secure sufficient slots at the senior staff college for all of the four superintendents, but it will have no bearing on the outcome of the interviews.'' The new commissioner will be offered a three-year contract, with a further three years an option under mutual agreement, which is the same as offered to Director of Public Prosecutions Khamisi Tokunbo.

Once the senior rank promotions are complete by the end of the year, the process for filling the position of assistant commissioner will then begin.

But once all three of the top jobs are taken, it is expected that there will then be three vacant superintendent positions available.

The chief inspectors thought to be in the running for those posts are Norman Ingemann, Steve Shaw, Derek Smith, Vendall Bridgeman, Carlton Adams, Sinclair White, Randolph Liverpool, and Roseanda Jones.

Chief Inspector Larry Smith has made it clear to The Royal Gazette that he will not be putting himself forward for the posts.

However, interviews for those ranks will be held internally by the Commissioner.

Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman Mr. Lemay was appointed Commissioner in 1998 by Governor Masefield.

The RCMP gave its blessing to an extension to Mr. Lemay's original 18-month stint on the Island to allow him to take over the top job.

But it was promised at the time that a special interview and training scheme to identify Bermudian officers capable of filling the top posts would continue.

The appointment of Mr. Lemay followed six months of uncertainty in Bermuda after former Commissioner Colin Coxall quit his post early.