The Honolulu Police Commission has narrowed its list of candidates to replace Boisse Correa as police chief to six, including four current members of the force and two high-ranking police officers from the Mainland.

Commission Chairwoman Christine Camp said a police chief selection committee appointed by the commission had recommended that only four candidates advance as finalists, but the commission requested the list be expanded to include the next two top candidates — Assistant Police Chief Debora Tandal and Assistant Chief Delbert Tatsuyama, head of the Administrative Bureau.

The other finalists are Deputy Police Chief Paul Putzulu, who has been acting chief; Capt. Louis Kealoha, head of the Juvenile Services Division; Harry Markely, a commander for the Phoenix Police Department; and Gary Yamashiroya, a commander in the Chicago Police Department.

Camp said she expects a final decision to be made by Thanksgiving.

Correa left the force in August after the commission declined to grant him a new five-year contract. Putzulu was named acting chief.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann said in July he believes a new chief can be found within HPD's ranks.

Prior to the beginning of the selection process, Camp said she expected three to five candidates would make it past the selection committee for the commission to consider. She and other commission members wanted a larger pool than four because there were 13 candidates who made it onto a short list this week, she said.

Two of the 13 dropped out, leaving 11.

"We just wanted to expand the pool of names and so we said 'You know what?Give us half,' " Camp said.

The commission is under no obligation to select only from the four finalists as recommended by the five-member selection committee, Camp added.

"They are an advisory board of the commission, they serve at the pleasure of the commission,"she said. "It's the commission's prerogative to send two more names in if we need to."

As a result, the commission office ended up sending the top six names for the next step — a psychological assessment, Camp said.

Camp said commission members did not ask for specific candidates to become finalists. "There are no specific names that we would have wanted to come through."

There was also no manipulation of ranking, she said. "Whoever was in the top half, they go into the psych test."

Camp said the commission will interview the finalists next week. Public testimony is expected to be taken at its meeting at 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday.

The commission also has a meeting this afternoon. The consultant hired to administer the psychological test will be on hand to explain the process, Camp said.

The job of Honolulu police chief pays $136,236 annually plus $2,496 in "standard of conduct" pay.