Mr Ghaffur started as a constable 30 years ago
Tarique Ghaffur is a deputy assistant commissioner at Scotland Yard - the capital's equivalent to a chief constable.
London's fourth highest-ranking officer is shortlisted to take over from Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable, David Wilmot, who retires later this year.
Mr Ghaffur, 46, joins three other high-ranking officers in the race to replace Mr Wilmot, who has been in the Manchester post for 11 years.
Leading Asian
Interviews for Mr Wilmot's replacement are due to take place in March 2002.
Mr Ghaffur began his police career as a PC in Salford nearly 30 years ago.
He has claimed the desk sergeant on duty in 1974 would not let him through the door on his first day, and initially refused to believe he was a policeman.
He was only the second non-white officer in a force of more than 6,000.
Since then, the Ugandan-born officer has risen through the ranks to become the country's leading Asian policeman.
Also shortlisted for the Greater Manchester job are 45-year-old Colin Cramphorn, currently Deputy Chief Constable with the Police Service of Northern Ireland; Deputy Chief Constable of Surrey Police, 42-year-old Peter Fahy; and Michael Todd, 44, currently Assistant Commissioner with the Metropolitan Police.