ALBANY, N.Y. -- Mayor Kathy Sheehan says when it came to appointing the next police chief, it was important the candidate embodies a commitment to community policing and 21-st century policing strategies. She says Eric Hawkins checked all those boxes.

"This was an individual who I thought had the right leadership skills, the right experience and was really the right person for the city of Albany," Sheehan said.

Sheehan announced her pick for the next Albany police chief on Friday.

Hawkins comes to the Capital City from Southfield, Michigan, where he currently serves as police chief. It's a city of about 73,000 people just northwest of Detroit. 

He's been the top cop of that department since October 2012.

"He was very attractive to us in terms of how he communicated," said Alice Green, who served as chair of the advisory committee for the police chief search.

A consultant firm conducted a nationwide search and provide the advisory committee with seven candiates. From there, the committee narrowed it down to four, leaving it up to Sheehan to select Hawkins.

According to Sheehan, Hawkins oversaw strategies that led to a 45 percent decrease in crime during his tenure in Southfield. He will now be the top cop in a city that has seen three homicides and more than a dozen shootings this month.  

"I think he sees this as an opportunity for him to really make his mark with respect to advancing the work that he started in Southfield that really runs deeper here in Albany," Sheehan said.

The mayor's office sent a statement from Hawkins, saying he's honored.

"The Albany Police Department has a rich history of working with the community in resolving issues and enhancing safety and security," Hawkins said. "I look forward to continuing that tradition.”

Albany Common Council has 45 days to approve or reject the appointment. Current acting Albany Police Chief Robert Sears is retiring sometime this summer.