The promotional exams are not scheduled, but the application deadline is Aug.15. The city has 36 police detectives, six short of its full complement, and two deputy chiefs, police officials said.

The city could hire as many as four detectives and wants to appoint one deputy chief, according to Ralph Jacobs, the city's personnel director, and police spokesman Lt. James Viadero.

"It's up to them to decide what they want," Jacobs said of the mayor and Police Department.

Deputy chiefs are ranked two spots down from the chief; the two deputy chiefs are Anthony Armeno and James Honis.

Assistant chief is the No. 2 rank, but not an official job under the police union's contract with the city, officials said. None of the deputies are likely to be promoted until the assistant position becomes official, officials said.

Robert Mangano, who died in 2004 after a long illness, was appointed the department's first assistant chief. The position was created during Chief Wilbur L. Chapman's administration.

The deputy chief openings were created with the retirement of acting Deputy Chief Richard Petitte and the promotion of Karen Krasicky to assistant chief, both last year. Krasicky has left to run the Plymouth Police Department.

Detectives are paid a base annual salary of $58,181; a deputy chief is paid a base of $85,803, according to the Civil Service Department.

The written exam for police officer candidates is scheduled Aug. 19, Jacobs said.

The department received about 1,030 applications for jobs, he said.

The agility test, the first phase of the patrol testing process, has been held weekends over several months. Nonresident applicants must pay $40 and have a doctor's note declaring them fit to take the agility test.

The personnel director was satisfied with the number of applicants, garnered after he extended the application deadline in March.

"We always have a lot of attrition on the agility," Jacobs said.

To be disqualified, applicants fail the test, don't show or don't have a doctor's note, he said.

The city used to hold the written test first but reversed the order this time because the written portion is more expensive, Jacobs said. An oral exam follows the written exam, along with a battery of psychological exams.

The Police Department, at 412 officers, is down 80 to 100 from its full complement, said Officer Sean Ronan, president of the Bridgeport Police Union Local 1159.

Entry-level officers in Bridgeport typically are paid a base salary of $39,886 a year.

Twenty-seven men and 11 women made up the previous class of officers, the 31st class from the Bridgeport Police Academy. They were sworn in on a snowy night in December 2002 at Central High School.

Aaron Leo, who covers regional issues, can be reached at 330-6222.