It was day one of interviewing Thursday for the finalists for the position of Albany police chief. The search committee underwent months of preparation to get to this point and our Britt Godshalk has been covering the process every step of the way. She joined us with more.

ALBANY, N.Y. -- The Albany Police Chief Search Committee faced the city's residents during three public forums and on Wednesday, they faced the District Attorney of Albany County for his thoughts.

Thursday morning, members heard from an expert in community policing. But by afternoon, it was time for two of the finalists to face them.

Two of the eight finalists for Albany police chief met the search committee face to face and behind closed doors. Hours before, a UAlbany Criminal Justice professor had urged members to find out during interviews if the finalists' knowledge of community policing goes beyond the rhetoric.

"That they have some practical ideas, some programs for the use of all the resources of the police department, as well as the whole community to solve problems," said Professor David Bayley.

Finalist Jamie Fields is former deputy chief of the Detroit Police Department.

"Detroit, back in the 80s, was one of the first big cities to get on the bandwagon and they know a lot about community policing," Bayley said.

"In 1973, Detroit instituted neighborhood mini stations throughout the community. And as an 18-year-old recruit, I had the privilege of working in one of those mini stations. Each community has different needs and different issues," Fields said. "Community policing is about working with that specific neighborhood and that specific community to address those needs. And that's what I've done."

Finalist Edward Welch, also interviewed Thursday, patrolled what was, in the early 90s, some of New York City's most crime ridden neighborhoods, where even taxi drivers refused to travel for fear of being robbed.

"As a young rookie police officer just out of the academy, I addressed taxi robberies, I focused on them and I was responsive to the community need," Welch said.

He has roots in Albany and works for the Port Authority Police Department as the director of security programs for the World Trade Center.

"I'm a team leader," Welch said. "I like to recognize talent and let them run."

But is either man the city's next chief of police?

"I don't know," said Fields. "I think the committee a better judge of that instead of me."

The committee chair says there was sufficient time to gauge Fields and Welch during the hour and a half interviews. And of those conversations, he said only this.

"So far, so good," said Hon. Larry Rosen, Albany Police Chief Search Committee Chair.

Short and sweet.

The rest of the candidates will be interviewed by the search committee on March 22nd and 23rd, after which members will hand a name or names to the mayor, whose pick must be confirmed or vetoed by the common council.