The group searching for the next Harvard police chief has received applications but has yet to interview candidates, Vice President and General Counsel Margaret H. Marshall said last week.

The group consists of faculty and administrators who are advising the general counsel. Marshall said in a telephone interview that she doesn't expect a decision on the new police chief to be made until the fall, and "it could be longer."

"The advisory group is looking at the pool of candidates and sifting through to see which candidates should go to the next stage," Marshall said.

The general counsel said that the search is moving slowly in part because of the outreach that the 10-member advisory group is conducting. The group has actively sought out suggestions for potential candidates, Marshall said.

In the meantime, Paul E. Johnson will remain as chief, she added.

Marshall declined to say how many applications were received, but called the number "fairly large."

Sources in the police department have said that Calvin J. Kantor, the head of the University security guard unit, is a top candidate to be the next police chief.

Even if he doesn't get the position, sources said, he will likely be the second-in-command within the new leadership structure.

But Kantor said in a recent interview he did not want the position of chief. "I have no intention of applying for the job," Kantor said.

Wellington Applies

A handful of candidates have said publicly that they are seeking the post. Most recently, former Northeastern campus police sergeant Christine Wellington said she had applied for the job.

Wellington was the first female sergeant at Northeastern. While acknowledging that she knew little about the Harvard police department, Wellington, who is now a lawyer in private practice, said she was excited about the post.

"I think [Harvard police chief] would be an extremely exciting and challenging position," Wellington said.

"I believe in creative thinking, in looking at the visionary aspects that leaders have to have," she added. "[It's important] to be able to be challenged."

Wellington has a total of 15 years of experience as a campus police officer, first at Salem State College and then at Northeastern. At night she studied law at New England University, from which she graduated in 1992.