MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) – The list of potential contenders to be the next Miami Beach police chief has been whittled down to about a dozen or so.

Of the initial list of 79 candidates, only 13 remain, according to CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald. Of that list three currently oversee police departments in Doral, Hialeah and Bal Harbour. Nearly half the candidates on the list had also thrown their hat into the ring for the Miami police chief position.

The new chief will take over for Carlos Noriega, who handed over control of the trouble department last November. Noriega will officially retire at the end of the year.

In the last year, the department has had a number of high profile investigations; from alleged gay bashing by several officers to a shooting on Memorial Day to officer’s joyride on the beach which severely injured two people.

In the coming weeks, the final 13 candidate will take part in two community panels. The list will then be narrowed down to five candidates who will be interviewed by City Manager Jorge Gonzalez, City Attorney Jose Smith, former Miami Beach commissioner Victor Diaz Jr. and Miami-Dade Police Director James Loftus.

Gonzalez will make the final pick which will then have to be approved by the commission.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed to this report.)