DAYTON — With the recent departure of its top law enforcement officer, the city of Dayton is searching for a new chief of police.

Former Dayton Police Chief Nick Dunbar left the department this month to join the Webster County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy. Dunbar will be sworn in as a WCSO deputy on July 1. For now, Dayton Police Officer Andy Pepples is handling the law enforcement duties in Dayton.

On Wednesday, the Dayton City Council discussed its plans for filling Dunbar’s role.

Earlier this month, the council talked with the Webster County Sheriff’s Office to discuss an agreement between the Sheriff’s Office and the city for the Sheriff’s Office to provide patrol for Dayton.

Dayton Mayor Dave Bills said the council wasn’t comfortable entering a three-year contract at $100,000 a year, and that they’d like to have a one-year trial period. He also said he did understand why the WCSO would want a longer commitment from the city.

The council decided to move forward with the interviews with two candidates who have applied for the police chief job.

“Talking to the citizens, they prefer we have a police officer full-time,” Bills said.