The University of Massachusetts Chief of Police John Horvath is the Rockport Board of Selectmen’s choice for the town’s next police chief, reports The Gloucester Times.

According to the Times, the Board voted 3-2 to offer Horvath the job Tuesday. If Horvath accepts the offer, which is “still conditional on a background check and physical exam,” he would replace interim Chief James Mulligan, who had been filling in for former Chief John McCarthy, who stepped down last fall after 15 years, according to the Times.

The article stated that Horvath was one of two finalists for the position along with Merrimack, New Hampshire Police Chief Mark Doyle.

In a statement to MassLive, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life Enku Gelaye thanked Horvath “for his service as our police chief and wish him success in his new position in Rockport.”

Horvath took over as the UMass police chief in the fall of 2012, replacing John Whitehead, who left in February 2012.

Anthony Rentsch can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter @Anthony_Rentsch.