MOUNT CARMEL — The man recently named East Tennessee's Police Officer of the Year will serve as Mount Carmel's interim police chief until a permanent chief is selected. On Monday Mount Carmel City Manager Mike Housewright appointed Officer Grady White to the interim chief position, taking affect immediately. White replaces longtime police chief Jeff Jackson who will serve as Public Safety Director until his retirement becomes official on June 30. Housewright told the Times-News he doesn't expect the chief selection process to be complete before Jackson retires, and he felt White should assume the interim chief duties now while he still has Jackson as a resource. The deadline to submit applications has passed with six candidates seeking the Mount Carmel Police Chief position. Interviews haven't been scheduled as of yet, but Housewright said he will form a selection committee, determine which applicants will be interviewed, and schedule interviews in the near future. Among the applicants are White, who has been with the MCPD for the past 16 months; former longtime MCPD assistant chief Mike Campbell; former Carter County Sheriff Chris Mathes; and three out of state applicants — Frederick Smith of Chandler, Az., Jesus Eduardo Campa of El Paso, TX.