Cron hired as police chief
Official: Assistant chief was only qualified applicant

By Leslie Wood
Staff writer

Robert Cron the vacant Gallup police chief position on Thursday afternoon, and he immediately accepted the offer, according to an employee for the human resources department.

Cron was the only applicant who met the requirements for the position, Klo Gasper, a personnel assistant for the city of Gallup, said. He subsequently underwent a series of interviews with the city’s selection committee on Wednesday and was offered the position the following day.

“He accepted immediately,” Gasper said.

Cron will earn an annual salary of $67,163 as part of an agreement between him and the city and will begin serving in the capacity of police chief immediately.

Cron was not immediately available for comment late Thursday afternoon about his selection.

He has been acting as police chief since former Gallup Police Chief Sylvester Stanley was relieved of his duties, Cron and formerly served as deputy police chief for the agency. Cron, a 25-year veteran of police work, said in a previous interview he plans to involve patrol officers in making decisions related to the department.

“I’d like to see the officers take part in the day-to-day decision,” Cron has said.

Cron retired from a long law enforcement career with the New Mexico State Police several years ago and immediately began work at the Gallup Police Department.