ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOX) – A total of 13 candidates have stepped forward from within the ranks of the St. Louis Police Department, hoping to replace out-going chief Dan Isom.

During a very brief meeting Wednesday morning the Board of Police Commissioners talked about a stringent on-online test that each hopeful will have to take, measuring things like personality and motivation.

Afterward Board president Colonel Rich Gray talked about the qualities that make a good police chief.

“To me its no different than the president of the United States,” said Gray. “We’re looking for someone who has the ability to lead us through tough times.”

A St. Louis-based firm — AAIM Employers’ Association* —  has been hired to conduct the tests after submitting the only proposal.

You can chip in you’re two cents worth on the search for a new chief Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Harris-Stowe State University.

Two more public forums are set for Thursday night at Grbic Banquet Center on Keokuk and next Tuesday, the 13th, at the Omega Center on Goodfellow.

*NOTE – This story originally identified AAIM as a Peoria, Illinois-based firm. They are in fact headquartered in St. Louis. KMOX News regrets the error.