MAYOR CONFIDENT OF LEADERSHIP
After being announced as the choice for Gallup’s new police chief, Franklin Boyd was sworn in at a ceremony at the El Morro Theatre April 19.
The ceremony featured members of the Gallup City Council, as well as community leaders, highlighting Boyd’s achievements.
“This is a great day for Gallup,” Mayor Jackie McKinney said. “[We are acknowledging] someone who has dedicated a lot of time to this city and cares very much about safety in our community.”
McKinney said that Boyd is soft-spoken, good-hearted, and humble, but he is able to speak up assertively for the police department.
“We will develop a system that works for Gallup to protect the officers and citizens because they should be protected,” he said.
City Manager Maryann Ustick said that she has had the privilege of working with police departments around the nation, and that the Gallup department is a standout because it is effective in every area, while adhering to the highest standards of law enforcement in the country.
“While out in community in some of the most challenging conditions we’ve ever seen, you treat people with respect,” she said to Boyd. “It’s a delight for me personally, but not a surprise to have a chief be one of our own.”
Gallup City Councilor Linda Garcia was next to speak, calling on her knowledge of Boyd for 20 years. Garcia said to Boyd: “What you have chosen to do is a mission and a calling. Not everyone can do this. All your work, energy, dedication, and integrity has brought you to this day.”
Originally from Fort Defiance, Ariz., Boyd enlisted in the military. During his tour of duty, he was a rank crewman in the Gulf War, and participated in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia in 1992, Garcia said. Boyd then re-enlisted in 1993 and served two terms in Pakistan and Panama City, before he was honorably discharged as a sergeant.
Garcia pointed out that since he returned to Gallup and enrolled in the police department, he worked his way up through every rank in the department. He has since commanded multiple units within the department, including patrol, detective, property crimes, investigations, and the emergency response team.
Municipal Court Judge Grant Foutz then swore Boyd in as Chief of Police, which sparked a standing ovation from the El Morro audience.
Boyd gave his acceptance speech afterward, expressing his gratitude to his family and peers for helping him reach this point.
“Without their support, I wouldn’t be the person I am,” he said. “I am proud to have been a member of this community for my entire career.”
In a separate interview with the Sun, Boyd said, “You don’t just learn the department, you learn how to do specific jobs within the police department.”
He called his new position a phenomenal task, and added that border towns present a unique challenge, and added that it makes it hard to bring an officer in from the outside to work with the Gallup police. If they haven’t worked in a border town, the results of their efforts might not meet expectations.
“You don’t learn how to police this unique community overnight,” he said..
As the interim police chief before Phillip Hart was hired, and then again when he was removed, Boyd acknowledged the department is going where he wants it to go. “I’ve been working on these issues since 2016,” he said.
The next objective Boyd wants to implement is body cameras for each officer.
In addition to hiring more staff, Boyd hopes that a proposed new police department building will be able to increase the officers’ morale and performance.
“The people’s safety will always be our top priority,” he said. “The officers never put personal interest before people. They truly care for this community.”
In the closing remarks at the ceremony, Mayor McKinney spoke about how Boyd came to stand out, thanks to his good attitude.
“I’m confident Boyd can lead the team,” he said. “There is no doubt in my mind.”
By Cody Begaye
Sun Correspondent
