CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Before the month is out, one of three men will be named CMPD’s next police chief.

47 candidates have been whittled down to just three and one of the men will be next to run the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.

Only one of the finalists is local. Deputy Chief Jerry Sennett has been with CMPD for nearly 30 years.

Local Fraternal Order of Police President, Randy Hagler, told me over the phone, the F.O.P. would likely back Sennett, the home grown guy who has come up through the ranks.

But many neighborhood association members want to look beyond our own department.

Vickie Fewell from Shannon Park Neighborhood Association said, “It would be better for someone else to come in from outside, because like I've said, your neighbor can tell you how bad your backyard is, but you might not see it.”

Richmond, Va. Police Chief, Rodney Monroe and the Assistant Chief of the Atlanta Police Department, Alan Dreher are the other two finalists.

“They bring a different perspective and they may be able to see something that we don't,” Fewell said.

An Atlanta police spokesperson told Channel 9 that Deputy Chief Dreher is an asset to the department.

Richmond's mayor said Chief Monroe has helped their city see its lowest crime numbers in 26 years and called Monroe 'Richmond's brightest star.'

David Romero from ‘Neighbors For A Safer Charlotte’ said they are not backing any particular candidate.

Romero just hopes the city manager picks someone who will make big changes and make them fast.

“I hope and think he wants an aggressive and tenacious new police chief. We have not had that of recent times and I think anything less than that would be a disappointment to the community,” Romero said.

All three candidates will be in town next Tuesday for a public forum that will be held a week from Tuesday at the Blake Hotel in Uptown Charlotte.

The city manager will choose the next chief before June 1.

For more information about the public forum or to access the candidate's biographies visit newsroomcharmeck.org