The finalists for the position for Albany Police Chief all exhibit years, if not decades, of command experience, advanced degrees and an interest in community policing. But nine finalists abruptly became eight Tuesday, as a bit of a curveball was thrown from Western New York. Our Britt Godshalk has the play by play and a look at the rest of the men still in the running.

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At the 11th hour, Rochester Police Chief David Moore pulled out of the lineup of finalists for Albany Police Chief after being granted an upcoming interview.

"My very first commitment is to the City of Rochester," Moore said.

"Had he made this decision prior to learning that he was a finalist, it might have been nice to have known that," said Larry Rosen, Police Chief Search Committee Chair.

His resume suddenly revealed when, in a surprise move by the search committee, the finalists were disclosed Monday.

It's hard for me to believe that any one of them wouldn't make significant changes in the structure and the culture in order to move forward," Rosen said. "If there were to be skeletons in the closet of an individual candidate, there's a much better chance that that will come to our attention now than if the names came out later."

Names like Jamie Fields, former Detroit Deputy Police Chief.

"Sir are there any skeletons in your closet that we need to know about?" our reporter asked.

"Absolutely not," said Fields.

"Not that I know of," said James Schepperly.

And James Schepperly, former New York State Police Assistant Deputy Superintendent.

Also in the mix, John Pikus, current head of Albany's FBI field office.

"Why you're leaving your specific employment that you have to come here? What is your interest in this? These are the types of issues that we'll be going over with the candidates," Rosen said.

The only other Albany based finalist is Acting Chief Steven Krokoff, the rookie of the bunch in terms of command experience.

"Any one of the candidates may conceivably blow away us as a group during the interview process, he included," Rosen said.

Krokoff said in a statement "I look forward to showing them how that transforms into real life leadership."

Also telling us they're pleased to be considered are Saginaw, Michigan Police Chief Gerald Cliff; former Gaithersburg, Maryland Police Chief John King; and Director of World Trade Center Security Programs for the Port Authority Police Department Edward Welch.

Also on the short list is former Buffalo Police Commissioner H. McCarthy Gipson, who had no comment.

But in each resume, a buzz phrase -- community policing.

"For me, community policing is not just a philosophy. It's a way of life," said Fields.

"The community wants effective law enforcement services, but they also need to help understand and help define what that will be," Schepperly said.

Residents agreed during a public forum in December.

Two more forums are planned before interviews begin on March 11th.