Raleigh, N.C. — The Raleigh Police Protective Association on Tuesday evening endorsed a Grand Rapids, Mich., police chief to be the city's next top cop.

Chief Harry Dolan is one of two candidates that Raleigh City Manager Russell Allen chose from a pool of 45 applicants to replace former Chief Jane Perlov, who left in March to take a corporate security job. Raleigh's interim police chief, Kent Sholar, is the second candidate.

The association said a majority of its members voted for Dolan but would not say how many members voted.

Last week, police officers had the opportunity to hear from both at a forum, in which the candidates talked about their desire to lead the department, their experience and their views on communication and training.

Allen, who will decide on the chief, has said he will take into account the RPPA's endorsement, as well as feedback from last week's forums. He has not given an exact date on when he will decide but has said it will be soon.

"We really did have very good candidates, and I really do feel extremely good about the two finalists," Allen said earlier this month. "Either one would be a great chief for Raleigh. My job is really to find out which one will be the best one."

Sholar has worked for the Raleigh Police Department for 24 years, moving up the ranks from patrol officer to detective, sergeant, lieutenant, captain and major. He was named deputy chief last December and was appointed as interim chief after Perlov left.

Dolan has spent 18 of his 27 years in law enforcement in North Carolina, including five with the Raleigh Police Department. He has been police chief in Grand Rapids for the past nine years. Before that, he served as police chief in Lumberton and for the North Carolina Department of Human Resources Police Department in Black Mountain. He worked in Raleigh from 1982 to 1987.

According to its Web site, the Raleigh Police Protective Association is an organization of officers who advocate for the protection and rights of police officers.