New London - Former New London police Capt. William Dittman, who took early retirement in January following a restructuring of police management, has applied to be the chief of the Mashantucket Pequot tribal police department.

Dittman, a 35-year veteran of the New London Police Department, is currently working for the state. He confirmed Friday that he dropped off an application for the tribal job. He said he started receiving telephone calls last week from people congratulating him.

"I don't have the job," he said. "There are rumors running all over the place."

Tribal police Chief Daniel Collins resigned last month. The tribe has been looking into having its own police replace the Connecticut state troopers who patrol the casinos. The tribe could save millions of dollars because it has to reimburse the state for security coverage.

"The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe has begun the process of conducting an extensive search for a new chief of police," said Bill Satti, director of public affairs.

k.edgecomb@theday.com