Serpas appears to be among final 2 candidates for New Orleans job

Tennessean May 1, 2010 Nashville Police Chief Ronal Serpas appears to be one of the final two candidates for police chief of New Orleans. New Orleans Mayor-elect Mitch Landrieu said Friday that he had narrowed the pool from three finalists to two but declined to say which candidate was eliminated, The Times-Picayune newspaper reported. In a phone interview Friday, Serpas deflected a question about his status, deferring to Landrieu's transition team. But he said he would let the people of Nashville know when there was news affecting his position here. "I'm looking forward to whatever his decision may be," he said, referring to Landrieu. Serpas worked in the New Orleans Police Department from 1980 to 2001, retiring as the No. 2 cop there. He has been Nashville's chief since 2004. Landrieu, who has called the police chief appointment the most important decision facing his incoming administration, will take office Monday. The Times-Picayune report said the decision would likely come "middle to late next week." — MICHAEL CASS THE TENNESSEAN