The Southwest Mercer County Regional Police Department is looking for new faces, including a chief.

Applications are still being taken for the chief's job, Farrell Mayor William A. Morocco told city council Monday night.

Chief Joseph R. Timko formally retires Oct. 1, but is using vacation days through Sept. 30. Meanwhile, detective Sgt. Douglas Long is interim chief until the post is filled permanently.

Deputy Farrell Mayor and Councilman Louis A. Falconi questioned his colleagues about why applications are being taken from outside the department.

"Are there any applicants from the Southwest Mercer County Regional area?" he asked.

Councilman Robert Burich said he thought there is at least one. Morocco said he really didn't know much else because the head of the police commission, James DeCapua, is out of town.

Falconi said he would rather see someone from the department get the promotion. "We have a couple of candidates from our own ranks here, and I think they should be considered."

Councilwoman Helen M. Marenchin said she didn't think it was important that the new chief be promoted from the ranks. "I think we're lucky if we get enough applicants," she said.

Burich said recommendations will be made to council before the commission hires or promotes anyone.

Falconi also wanted to know if the new chief is required to have a college degree. Morocco said the position is "college degree preferred," meaning a degree is not mandatory.

Besides a chief, the department, which also covers Wheatland and West Middlesex, is looking for more part-time patrolmen. The force, which normally has nine part-timers, is down to five. There are 14 full-timers on the force.

The department lost part-timers after several accepted full-time jobs elsewhere, Morocco said.

"We're trying as quickly as possible to bring the overall force to the assigned number," Morocco said Tuesday.

"When you consider that former Police Chief Timko is not available at work anymore and the interim chief is the former sergeant detective, whatever Long used to do may not be getting covered now," Morocco said.