The public had a chance to talk candidly with four men vying for the position of police chief of the city of Port Arthur on Wednesday.

Arthur Barclay, Jesus “Eddie” Campa, Jeff Fant and Patrick Melvin mingled with community members and city leaders during a meet and greet at The Department Club prior to and after addressing the group.

Barlcay, originally from the Houston area and also a 1980 graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School in Port Arthur, is deputy chief of Fort Worth Police Department. He first wanted to get a job with the Houston Police Department but during the application process learned that department was under a hiring freeze. He ended up in Fort Worth and has 28 years experience in law enforcement.

Campa grew up in El Paso and is currently chief of police in Marshall.

“There are a lot of issues Marshall faces that are the same as Port Arthur,” Campa said. “In Marshall, we have bridged the gap in the community and have a great relationship now.”

Community policing is a part of Campa’s philosophy and something he feels is necessary

He addressed the issue of his name being associated with an FBI investigation and embezzlement claims from when he was with the El Paso Sheriff’s Office. There was no video or other evidence of wrongdoing and he was never charged or indicted.

Fant is retired from the San Angelo Police Department after having served as assistant police chief. The position of chief in that town is an elected position and Fant opted to retire as the new chief would likely bring in new staff.

“I look at it as a positive. My whole career has been bettering my education and experience to better myself,” Fant said.

Each candidate went through interviews with staff and community members as well and Fant said he told the group he would like to see Port Arthur Police department as one that other departments look to. “I’d like it to be a model department and agency and I’d love to be known as the chief that turned that department around into something great.”

Melvin, a native Houstonian, is the retired chief of police at Salt River Police Department, Scottsdale, Arizona for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. He has led a varied career having served as assistant city manager for the city of Maricopa and as public safety director and fire chief/public safety manager.

For Melvin there has always been a love for law enforcement, which is the reason he is looking toward the chief’s spot in Port Arthur.

“What I’m learned in my career it you stick to what you’re good at,” Melvin said.

Warren Fields, an active community member and a member of one of the community committee tasked with interviewing the four candidates, feels the candiates are superior in terms of the post.

“There were two really stand-out candidates. I can’t name them, but one received four or five points above all the others,” Fields said.

The one candidate, he said, was articulate and had worked in successful community programs. Fields said community programs and policing should be similar to a ministerial approach in that the police reach out to the citizens where they live.

“He (unnamed candidate) impressed the group,” he said. “He also talked about policies and how they should be fair across the board and in the community as well as policy that is current and meets the needs of the community.”

The Rev. Donald Frank, who was a member of the ministers committee who spoke with the candidates, said he is happy to be a part of the process.

“We have great candidates and the city has done a wonderful job in getting this level and quality of candidates. I want to see where it goes from here.”

Frank said the committee members were able to share openly with each of the candidates and pose questions. They learned of the job description and the actual needs of the city.

City Manager Brian McDougal told attendees he would like to hear their views of the candidates.

A final decision could be made later this week.

Mary Meaux: 409-721-2429

Twitter: @MaryMeauxPANews