The horse is not dead; in fact, it’s still beating politics as three men fight for the position of Mecklenburg County’s police chief. After eight years, Darrel Stephens will retire his position, leaving the city with one of the lowest crime rates since 1981. City Manager Curt Walton released the names of three men yesterday who are being considered as the new chief, and beginning June 1, one of the three fresh suits will take his place. Well, maybe not so fresh; all three candidates come with over 20-years of experience. Here’s how they compare:

Contestant #1: Jerry Sennett is a deputy chief for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Sennett is responsible for several divisions including Support Services and Field Services and has been with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department since 1979. He implemented COMPSTAT, a system for managing police operations that helps pin-point target areas.

Contestant #2: Alan Dreher, assistant chief of the Atlanta Police Department. He is responsible for the largest municipal law enforcement agency in Georgia and has managed the Criminal Investigations Department, Field Operations, Support Services, plus some, since 2002. He policed Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., where he served for 23 years and became Deputy Chief.

Contestant #3: Rodney Monroe, the police chief in Richmond, Va. Monroe created the Cooperative Violence Reduction Partnership with prosecution and correction agencies, and is notable for a 33 percent drop in homicide ratings during his career span. He had experience as an assistant chief of police, the second highest sworn position, and also served as police chief in Macon, Ga., for five years.

Head over to the Blake Hotel on McDowell Street May 13 for a reception beginning at 6 p.m., followed by a public forum, where citizens can address the individual candidates. Visit www.charmeck.org for more information.