After less than three years on the job, Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins is a finalist for the same position in Akron, Ohio.

A press release from the city listed Hawkins as one of four finalists for the Akron police chief position, which has been open since February. Hawkins is listed along with retired Philadelphia Deputy Police Commissioner Joseph Sullivan, Bellevue, Wash., Police Chief Stephen Mylett and Portland, Ore., Police Deputy Chief Christopher Davis.

The Akron press release indicates Hawkins will be a part of a virtual community town hall with Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan and the other finalists for the position on June 17 at 5:30 p.m.

"I do not have an offer of employment form another law enforcement agency," Hawkins said in a brief statement released Tuesday. "I will continue to devote all of my time and energy to the City of Albany."

Hawkins has been Albany's police chief since September 2018, when he came to the capital city from Southfield, Mich., where he also served as police chief. In the last year, violent crime has continued to be an issue in the city, and there have also been protests against both police brutality in general and in his department's reaction to those protests — the most notable being an occupation outside of the department's South Station in April.

In a statement Tuesday, Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said, "It's not surprising to me that a member of my leadership team is being sought out by another agency. I have the best team in the business and they receive job inquiries and offers all the time."