Horry County announced the three finalists Monday night in the search for a permanent police chief.

Interim Chief Saundra Rhodes, who has served since late February following the retirement of Horry County’s former chief Johnny Morgan, is among the candidates.

Horry County spokeswoman Lisa Bourcier said in an email that the county hopes to announce the new chief in about two weeks.

The remaining candidates include Robert Mason, who is serving as the chief of police in for the department in Randolph Township, N.J., and Mark E. Beach, who serves as a field commander for the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., according to their resumes.

Mason has been in law enforcement since 1985, serving all of his years with Randolph Township. Beach has been with the Metropolitan Police Department since 1982, when he began his career.

Before being named interim chief of police, Rhodes served as a captain in the Horry County Police Department for nearly six years and has been in law enforcement since 1993, all in the county, according to her resume.

Horry County began accepting applications on July 23 and closed the job posting on Aug. 23.

The posting listed the salary range as $69,947 to $104,920. All applicants were to have a minimum of 10 years of law enforcement experience.

Horry County officials selected Rhodes to oversee the department until a permanent replacement was found. She is the department’s first female chief.

Contact MAYA T. PRABHU at 444-1722.