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Bellingham-area residents heard from the three candidates for police chief in an online public forum where the applicants answered questions on topics such as accountability, transparency, building public trust and their vision for the Police Department, which faces a staffing crisis amid a sharp rise in crime.

More than 120 people were watching live for at least part of the 90-minute event Thursday evening, March 17, which was hosted by the city and streamed through its Engage Bellingham website, said Janice Keller, the city’s communications director. A recording will be available at Engage Bellingham, along with a feedback survey that can be submitted through Sunday, March 20.

Elizabeth Monahan, director of the Human Resources Department, moderated what amounted to an open interview panel, as each of the three candidates had five minutes to summarize their careers and discuss why they wanted the chief’s job. Then each answered five questions that had been submitted by Bellingham residents or were based on comments left at the Engage Bellingham site.